Bush commutes the sentences of Ignacio Ramos and Joe Compean, two Border Patrol agents who were convicted of shooting and wounding an unarmed illegal alien (who was allegedly caught in the act of smuggling a van full of marijuana) and tampering with evidence and trying to cover it up.

Ramos received 11 years, and Compean received twelve years. They will be released in March after serving two years.

Ramos and Compean have been somewhat of a cause celebre among certain portions of the conservative base, especially those animated by the issue of illegal immigration.  I have not followed the case closely, but President Bush's judgment that the sentences they received were "too harsh" and that the men have "suffered enough for their crimes" seems reasonable and justified.