Should the Army secure the borders?

[spmetla]

Talking with some buddies of mine brought up the idea of using the Army to help secure the border with Mexico. Ideally it'd be like this (really watered down of course, it's just speculation):

Light and motorized units, Strykers, Humvees and such supported by Army aviation for spotting people crossing the border and detaining the illegal immigrants. Tanks, APC's, and BFV's would all be too heavy for this type of duty I imagine.

Units assigned to this duty would act under US Border Control and would hand over all detained illegals to Border Control.

Of course have some sort of civilian neutral elementl overwatching both the military and border control so that there isn't abuse of illegal immigrants.

The US Army definately has more resources and better technology to detect illegals crossing the border in all weather conditions. The aspect of aerial survelliance would probably be the best help to spot illegals along with the use enhanced vision systems (Thermals, Night vision etc..).

Although the duty would be a bit taxing on the Army due to it's need to constantly cycle soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan. On the plus side it'd be good real life training for countering insurgent activities. It'd certainly help in Iraq and Afghanistan if our military was more experienced at securing borders against infilitration by small units.

The Army also has a lot of hispanics within it's ranks making at least the language barrier easier to overcome.

And although this wouldn't solve the problem entirely I imagine it would at least allow the actual border patrol to concentrate on areas where the army couldn't operate as easily such as border towns that mirror each other on each side of the border and of course at the proper checkpoints where they'd ideally have freed up more personnel to assist in searching vehicles.

Besides, no matter what you're opinion on what to do with the illegals already withing the country I find few people that are against preventing more people from illegally entering the country.

Good idea or do my friends and I oversimply matters too much (or worse yet are we already doing it and we're just ignorant)?

[Major Robert Dump]

Um, or we could budget more money to the border patrol and the Coast Guard so they could do their job, and more to police departments on the border. I think the Army has bigger fish to fry.

Unless immigrants start driving tanks and bringing machineguns or paratrooping in. So I guess it would be okay if we dismantled the Border Patrol and The Coast Guard, because if we didn't it would be like Secret Service doing sobriety roadblocks.

[Uesugi Kenshin]

MRD look up M-60 tank on google images, I don't have the link at the moment, but if you dig a little you will find what appears to be a photo of an M-60 being driven by illegals into the US. Now it wasn't exactly from a reputable source (HIGHLY anti-immigrant), but it is still kind of funny, though it may be fake.

[KrooK]

I'm not from USA but I will write here.
It doesn't make any sense. Army is not police - they got different objectives.
I can't imagine soldiers running and catching imigrants - of course if you want shot them with cannon, tanks would be good option.... :)

[Major Robert Dump]

I know which one you are talking about, and of the stories of corrupt police and people in hummers/ATVs crossing the border, and I still think its a police/border patrol/coast guard issue. Equip them for the threat, and use the army for military operations, not police and security guard work. If we find out that these hummers and ATVs are being paid for, ordered to act and operated by an organized military force -- notr wealthy drug dealers or rogue cops -- then we activate the National Guard for the state affected.


DICKS NOT DRAFT!

[yesdachi]

Does anyone else know what other countries use to secure their boarders? I genuinely don’t know but from the 007 movies it seems it’s always the military.

[master of the puppets]

like dump said, we are invaded.
We have given humvees wit mounted 50 cals to mexico to help stop its drug lord problems, but it has been seen and reported that thes humvees piloted by corrupt mexican cops routinely cross the border and throw drugs into the desert where american drug dealers pick them up, i believe there have even been shhotouts between the Border Patrol and the humvees, 50 cals vs shotguns...hm, i'll see if i can find the link.

on the origional topic i think its a good idea i would say it could divert to much equipment but if the mi.litary were to establish training facilities in the desert it could give the feel of live action while not under fire.

[Mikeus Caesar]

Does anyone else know what other countries use to secure their boarders? I genuinely don’t know but from the 007 movies it seems it’s always the military.

UK - Republic of Ireland border? Last time i checked, that was a heavily secured border manned by the army, complete with large observation towers and bases plonked on top of hills and cliffs.

[Kagemusha]

Does anyone else know what other countries use to secure their boarders? I genuinely don’t know but from the 007 movies it seems it’s always the military.

I can only speak apart from my Country but our Border Guards are military trained.While mostly they work almost as police force,but incase of War.They are the first ones to start slowing the enemy.Many of them have military training of Tiedustelija= Ranger.

[Al Khalifah]

UK - Republic of Ireland border? Last time i checked, that was a heavily secured border manned by the army, complete with large observation towers and bases plonked on top of hills and cliffs.

You clearly checked quite a long time ago then.

The sheer amount of manpower required to secure 3,141 km of border would be overwhelming on the US armed forces - especially given the fact that they are already stretced far too thinly across the world. It's not what the army is intended to do and it would most likely violate international law.

Other countries that do this include Iran, North Korea, Syria (with Israel).... such indefatigable bastions of liberty, why would the Land of the Free not wish to emulate these great states.

[Alexander the Pretty Good]

It's amazingly ironic, but I'm pretty sure Mexico uses its armed forces to put the squeeze on their southern border.

[Al Khalifah]

It's amazingly ironic, but I'm pretty sure Mexico uses its armed forces to put the squeeze on their southern border.

I'm the USA, I look down on Mexico because they're poor.
I'm Mexico, I look down on Guatemala because they're even poor than me.

[Crazed Rabbit]

We could make like Mexico and let our cops and soldiers beat up illegal immigrants, steal all their money, and kill them.

Crazed Rabbit

[Papewaio]

Well the North Koreans and Norwegians... the Nor Pact know what we use to board their cargo ships with.

Well at least they are all medics as well...

[yesdachi]

We could make like Mexico and let our cops and soldiers beat up illegal immigrants, steal all their money, and kill them.

Crazed Rabbit

What money?