WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, the most Senior Marine in the Congress, today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to do everything in his power to facilitate the release of Marine Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi who has been imprisoned in a Mexican jail since he mistakenly crossed the border into Mexico on March 31st. (For Audio Click Here)

“As a Marine, I took an oath to never leave a man behind, and I continue to honor that duty today,” Senator Roberts said. “Marine Sergeant Tahmooressi has been imprisoned for over one hundred days. Enough is enough. Sergeant Tahmooressi has served his nation honorably as a United States Marine, and it is time for his nation to honor his service. It’s time to bring him home.”

The following is the text of the letter, sent Thursday, July 10, 2014:

Dear Mr. President:

As the senior Marine in Congress, I write to you today regarding the unjust and erroneous incarceration of Sergeant Andrew Tahmooressi in Mexico. Sergeant Tahmooressi must be returned home safely. I took an oath when I joined the Corps to never leave a man behind and I continue to honor that duty today.

As you know, Sergeant Tahmooressi was arrested when he mistakenly crossed the border into Mexico on March 31, 2014. Since that time, Sergeant Tahmooressi has been a model prisoner and has complied with Mexican authorities as he patiently awaited his first hearing before a Mexican court. Unfortunately, yesterday’s closed hearing failed to provide those of us with a deep interest in this case the opportunity to hear what Mexican authorities provided as evidence. I am dismayed that Judge Victor Octavio Luna Escobedo felt the evidence was enough to keep Sergeant Tahmooressi behind bars.

Today marks Sergeant Tahmooressi’s 102nd day in a jail. Enough is enough. Sergeant Tahmooressi has served his nation honorably as a United States Marine, and it is time for his nation to honor his service to us. As your administration stated in defense of the handling of Sergeant Bowe Berghdahl’s release, it is the military ethos to never leave a man behind. I urge you to do everything in your power to force Mexican authorities to discharge these minor, erroneous charges and return Sergeant Tahmooressi to the United States immediately.

While I very much appreciate the efforts of the United States Consulate in Tijuana, which has provided Sergeant Tahmooressi with legal counsel and assisted his family in gaining access to Andrew, clearly much more must be done. I remain confident of Sergeant Tahmooressi’s innocence.

Thank you for your attention to this vital matter. I look forward to your reply and more importantly, to your quick action on Sergeant Tahmooressi’s behalf.