24 hour countdown finds lawmakers, citizens continuing efforts to keep two Border Patrol agents from jail

Two veteran U.S. Border Patrol agents who shot a Mexican drug runner on the Texas side of the U.S./Mexico border are hoping a last-ditch pardon from President Bush will save them from beginning to serve more than a decade in prison.

Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean are scheduled to turn themselves in to authorities Wednesday to begin serving 11 and 12 years, for the February 2005 non-fatal shooting.

A number of groups have been trying, through petitions, to keep the agents out of prison. They are seeking either a motion to U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone to allow them to remain free on bond during an appeal or a pardon from President Bush. A dozen rallies took place across the country in support of the agents in the last week.