-- Congress will take a closer look at the case of two U.S. Border Patrol agents imprisoned in connection with the shooting of an illegal immigrant who was running across the Mexican border.

A U.S. House committee has announced it will hold a hearing next month to investigate the prosecution of agents Jose Compean and Ignacio Ramos.

Republicans in Congress want U.S. prosecutors to explain under oath why they filed charges.

In Washington, D.C., the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee announced the hearings to investigate whether the Mexican government somehow intervened in the case and pressured U.S. prosecutors in Texas to go after the agents.

If those allegations are found to be true, that would give President George W. Bush grounds to issue a pardon.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, a California Republican, said, "It could be that Mexico is having an undue influence on our prosecutors and that this president is bending over to make an official from a foreign government happy, rather than seeking justice."

Meanwhile, supporters of Compean and Ramos announced they'll air a series of TV commericals in 125 U.S. cities, including several in Texas. The ads ask the public to call the White House and lobby for a presidential pardon.

A White House spokesman refused to comment when asked about the case and about a possible pardon.