Monica Ramos, wife of imprisoned U.S. border agent Ignacio Ramos, files personal reports, updates and insights as the struggle to free these agents continues.

Dear Mr. Elliott,

I wanted to thank you sir for your continued efforts and support of Mr. Compean and me.  I cannot tell you what it means to my family and me to know that you and Grassfire are continuing your efforts to keep our story alive.

Of course, I would also like to thank each and every member of Grassfire out there that is supporting us.

Your support has meant so much to me and has gone a long way in helping me through these long days in segregation.  Your willingness to continue to stand by me and believe in me has helped strengthen my determination and belief that we will persevere.

I would also like to thank you Mr. Elliott for assisting my beautiful wife Monica in her efforts as she continues to travel the country to garner support and spread the word of our plight.  She continues to work so hard day and night to come up with different ideas to get more atention and support.

She has been my strength, my rock through this past year.  Knowing she has been out there for me, fighting for me, waiting for me has meant more than the world.  She has shown how extraordinary she is for many in her position could not have or would not have handled this well and would've given up a long time ago.  I cannot express in words how much everything she has done has meant to me and how much I deeply love her.  She is much more than just my wife.  She is my friend, my confidant, my shoulder to cry on, the one who has always encouraged me and believed in me, she is the mother of my children, a part of my mind, my heart and my soul, the very essence of my being.  She has kept me going through all this.  I just wanted everyone to know how I felt about my wife and everythig she's done for me.  She deserves it.  She's the best.

With the coming holidays I ask please for your continued prayers and support for both mine and the Compean family.  To hep us get through what is sure to be an exceptionally difficult time of year, especially for our children.

Thanks again Mr. Elliott to you, Grasfire, and all of your amazing members for everything you have done for us.

I know in my heart this will all be over soon.  Our faith and trust in God will see us through.  For He says: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.  Jeremiah 33:3

Sincerely,

Ignacio Ramos 

Dear Grassfire Team,

Hi there! Sorry it has taken me some time to respond to you all. I've
just learned my last day of work will be September 30th.  This is not completely unexpected, and thanks to the wonderful support I continue to receive from Grassfire, my family and I will be okay.

I want to thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for everything you all have done for us.  Grassfire and the millions of supporter have done an amazing job in fighting for my husband and Agent Compean. We could not have made it without Grassfire and the many team members who have supported us both spiritually and financially. Our families could never have done it alone. 

As far as Nacho he is doing as best as can be expected.  He remains resilient and head strong--uplifted by the thousand of letters he still receives from friends.  Having him transferred to FCI Phoenix has made a huge difference. The Warden and the staff have been wonderful to my family and me and have been very professional in handling matters in a timely manner. 

We are so blessed with being able to see him weekly. These visits lift our spirits and reenergize us as a family. He still only gets one phone call, but the prison has been great. For example my son celebrated his 10th birthday on August 6th, so they allowed him to call and wish him a happy birthday.  My son didn’t want a cake or anything--he wants to wait until his dad comes home, but when we visited Nacho the following week, we bought him a cinnamon roll from the snack machine and sang Happy Birthday. It was quite emotional, but he understood that is how it has to be for now. 

To let you know, Nacho is getting consistent recreational time and is finally receiving the proper meds for his Tourette syndrome. It is an ongoing struggle getting him to see a physician for the injuries he sustained on his back when he was assaulted back in February.  Since the attack he has made repeated requests when at Yazoo and now at FCI Phoenix for treatment, I am hoping that he will soon get the care he needs.

As far as what is allowed and not allowed all I have been advised of is that magazines, newspapers and paperback books need to be sent directly from a publishing company.  A subscription of some sort is what will be able to pass through mail, but if it is sent in independently by a supporter then they will not allow it.  Pictures printed on regular computer paper seem to be allowed, but no glossy ones except for the ones he already has with him.  Stamps, envelopes, pencils, pens or blank paper will not be accepted.  Also, no care packages of any type will be accepted.  He is only allowed to purchase like snickers and chips in commissary so I send money to his commissary account to purchase these items. 

Overall though he looks good; he has gained some of his weight back, and has some color to him since he is able to go outside and spend some time in the sun.  Here is Nacho's new address, as well as Jose's. Keep writing--it makes a huge difference in their lives!

Dear Grassfire team,

I have not written in awhile, and I apologize. As you can imagine things are just alittle bit crazy what with the announcement that I will have to find another job, very soon. The company that I work for is about to be sold and will be relocating out of state. So as we are all saying here, "Our days are numbered."

Aside from my job, this is a difficult time for the family. It is our first summer without Ignacio, and it just doesn't feel right without him. With the kids being out of school, there is more time to focus on their dad, and I can see in their eyes how much they miss him--as do I.

 I started to think back to January of the missed moments he has had so far--moments that he'll never get back. The list below doesn't count the moments he lost while he served 8 months under House Arrest with an ankle monitor strapped to his leg.

I do also want to thank everyone for their incredible support throughout this terrible ordeal. I'm prayerful that it will soon end and Ignacio will be returned, and our family can be whole again. I Cherish your prayers, support and concern, and have posted both Ignacio's and Jose's mail addresses as they so look forward to getting notes, cards and letters from Grassfire team members.

January 17th - incarcerated

February 4th – maternal grandmother’s 86th birthday
February 5th – his own birthday (by the way he shares the same birthday with his younger brother and they are exactly 5 years apart; this was difficult for them as this is the first birthday they ever spent apart even without a phone call).
February 13th – his little brother’s birthday
February 14th – Valentine’s Day
February 17th – Step father’s birthday
February 25th – Our son’s oldest son’s birthday

March 12th – 16th – Our kids were on Spring Break
March 20th – sister in law’s birthday (which is my sister)

April 8th – Easter
April 15th – WOULD HAVE BEEN HIS 12 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN BORDER PATROL!!!!!

May 13th – Mother’s Day
May 18th – oldest son graduates from junior high school
May 21st – youngest son graduates from 1st grades with honors achiever award and citizenship award
May 23rd – middle son graduates from 4th grade with honor roll award
May 23rd – 25th – son hospitalized with Meningitis
May 25th – Nephew graduated from high school
May 26th – Our Wedding Anniversary
May 27th – paternal grandmother’s 88th birthday

June 1st – mother-in-law’s birthday (Ernestina Loya)
June 17th – Father’s Day

July 4th – Independence Day
July 20th – High School Reunion

Without Ignacio with us, none of these moments listed are really moments of celebration. We really don't have the heart to celebrate other than my rewarding my children for their excellent achievement awards in school.

Lost in all of this is Ignacio's love as a Little League baseball coach. The team really missed not see Coach Ramos at the games.

Well, I must go. Thank you, again so very much for all that you are doing. I really don't know where my family would be without your prayers and support!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

-Monica

PS: Here are the addresses of my husband and Jose. They would both love to hear from you.