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Immigration reform is a hot topic throughout the U.S. today: some would criminalize all immigrants other appreciate the value of cultural diversity.

Coming to a town near you is the former border patrol agent who shot a suspected illegal immigrant and was convicted along with his partner to 12 and 11 years in prison.

José Compean and agent Ignacio Ramos were convicted in federal court for the shooting of Osvaldo A. Dávila and for tampering with evidence, civil rights violations and obstruction of justice: they tried to cover up the incident.

Upon exiting his presidency, President Bush pardoned Compean and Ramos.

The two exconvicts have become national heroes to the conservatives and anti-immigration promoters.

The Temecula Republican Assembly has invited Compean to address the 4th of July dinner on July 3. Then on Saturday, Compean and his family will ride the assembly's 4th of July parade.

The assembly who presents the "Good neighbor award," has had as a guest speaker Scott Lively, the antigay activist who wrote "Pink Swastica," a book which alleges a relationship between homosexuals and Nazi Germany,

It is important to note that while Bush commuted the sentences of Compean and Ramos; that is, he set them free after serving a couple of years in prison. This does not exonorate the agents.

It was clear that they were convicted by a jury in a fair trial in which other agents testified agains them.

But of course, Bush is notorious for circumventing the U.s. Constitution.

"Hay que tener cuidado al elegir los enemigos por que uno termina pareciendose a ellos.  - Borges.

Happy Fourth.  In the "land of the free ... with justice for all."