Ramos - Former Border Patrol Agent's Family Relocates

Brenda R. MedinaTraffic Anchor/News Reporter

POSTED: 2:17 pm MDT August 7, 2008
UPDATED: 2:54 pm MDT August 7, 2008


EL PASO, Texas -- After hearing the sentence for the drug smuggler who helped put former border patrol agent Ignacio Ramos in jail, Ramos' wife is headed back to the place she now calls home.

Ignacio Ramos is currently serving an 11-year prison sentence in Arizona for his role in the shooting of drug smuggler Osvaldo Aldrete Davila.

Thursday morning KFOX caught up with Ramos' wife at the El Paso International Airport, just before she headed out. "He's not just ruined our family or the Compeans', he's ruined his own and now we have eight children here involved without their fathers," said Ramos' wife, Monica Ramos.

Monica Ramos is trying to piece her family's life back together.

“I decided to go ahead and relocate to Phoenix, Ariz., to be closer to my husband, closer to the facility where they have him incarcerated at this time,” said Monica Ramos.

As KFOX reported, Aldrete Davila's testimony in the shooting helped put Ignacio Ramos and his fellow border patrol agent, Jose Compean, behind bars, separating the Ramos family and forcing them to move.

"The move was mainly to try and keep some sort of normalcy for the children in having a relationship with their father. Living in Phoenix has alleviated a lot of the pressure of traveling weekly," Monica Ramos said.

Monica Ramos packed up and left with her children nearly two months ago.

“It's been a bit of a, you know, there's been some bumps in our move, but I have adjusted very well. People have been very welcoming, very supportive of my husband's case," she said.

She said for now, she'll continue to fight and hope for the best.

“It's hard to say what the future holds right now. We just kind of live on a day-to-day basis, not really knowing what to expect next. I was born and raised here in El Paso; I would hope to be able to bring my kids back," Monica Ramos said.

The federal appeals court has refused to throw out lengthy prison sentences for Compean and Ignacio Ramos.

Monica Ramos told KFOX they've recently gained a lot of support in Phoenix and she hopes the national support will help them win the long run.

Copyright 2008 by KFOXTV.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.