[PERMANENTLY CLOSED] How would you secure the border?

[OldWiseGuy]

I don't think an expensive 'wall' as suggested by Trump is the answer. I would rather see a lighted chain link/razor wire fence, manned by security forces all along it's length. Guard dogs would augment the security personnel.

Bright lights would illuminate the southern area at night while the northern area would be dark to any illegals who approach. The open wire would allow complete visibility at all times. Lighting costs would be reduced greatly by the use of pv systems.

The primary cost would be personnel, which would be provided by active duty Armed Services, state National Guard units, law enforcement, and dedicated border guard units. Since these personnel are already being paid there would be little or no cost for their service.

Whole military units could be deployed to remote sectors of the fence and conduct field training exercises in conjunction with fence duty. It would be good training for fighting in the deserts of the middle east.

If remote sectors show little or no illegal activity personnel could be reduced or redeployed to problem areas as needed. Military transport units would also rotate in for training, ensuring the quick mobility of personnel as needed.

This plan would minimize the cost of infrastructure and maximize the effectiveness by allowing more 'boots on the ground'. Thus the 'barrier' to entry would be invested more in personnel than an expensive, easily breached, unguarded wall.

 

[Paradoxum]

Why does immigration matter this much to some people? Just wondering.

 

[Douger]

I would have offices along the major highways to handle giving out visa waivers to Mexicans coming in and collecting them when Mexican nationals leave.
Then immigration agents can check in on businesses that are prone to hiring foreign nationals, language schools, mining, forestry, fishing and ag businesses, and make sure that foreigners working in those places have work visas.
There's no need for any type of barriers along the border with Mexico or Canada because neither nation is a threat and nationals from both countries should be able to come and go at will with only the most minor paperwork.

 

[JustOneWay]

I am not as interested in how I'd do it, I care more about the plans the candidates have.

Like Dr. Carson. He wants to use drones, and bomb if necessary.

I will remember that I remain a member of society, with special obligations to all my fellow human beings, those sound of mind and body as well as the infirm.

Lucky for him the oath doesn't say anything about killing people illegally crossing the border

 

[HannahT]

I would assume we would need to speak with some experts, and use technology with some sort of physical wall - if they felt it was needed. Personnel is needed of course too.

I haven't heard anyone NOT suggest some type of combination deal.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I would assume we would need to speak with some experts, and use technology with some sort of physical wall - if they felt it was needed. Personnel is needed of course too.

I haven't heard anyone NOT suggest some type of combination deal.

True. Illegals must be physically prevented from entering the country. A manned fence such as I described is an effective way to do it without great cost.

 

[OldWiseGuy]

I am not as interested in how I'd do it, I care more about the plans the candidates have.

The candidates, including Trump, have no idea of what their fence or wall would be. Only if elected would they bring in 'experts' to design a barrier; experts who would take the country to the cleaners with overpriced, goofy designs, that would never see the light of day.

The German in me (I'm one-quarter 'sauerkrauten') drives me to design the thing, right down to the smallest detail.

 

[essentialsaltes]

The real answer (as everyone on both sides of the aisle knows) is to crack down on employers of illegals. If you take away their jobs (by severely punishing employers), many illegals would self-deport. And that's more jobs for everyone else (if they will stoop to take the jobs that illegals do).

 

[Jan Volkes]

Why not give Mexican farm workers visas to work for the season then they would not be classed as illegals? in that way a record of who they are and where they are could be kept and they could even be taxed as temporary labourers, in that way farmer, worker and government would all benifit, bribe proof inspectors [if there are such people in the US] could have snap inspections of the farms and any illegal workers found working there would cost the farmer a substantial fine and the illegal would be deported, that alone would reduce the cost by half at least.

This could already be the way it works for all I know, if it is please ignore this post.

 

[scraparcs]

Expanding guest worker programs might well reduce the need for giant fences and drones and guard dogs. If you can be with family some of the time and make much more than you would back home, some of this problem solves itself.

 

[stamperben]

Dredge the Rio Grande deeper and much wider. Float navy cruisers along its length. West of El Paso dig a trench to the Pacific and do the same thing. Then as a final act to stop all who would want to cross, dome it with smooth clear glass in its entirety. That way if anyone did dare to dig into it we could use a poisonous gas in it to stop the illegals. Heck, just keep the gas in the dome full time! That way we wouldn't have to waste the naval resources.

 

[Jan Volkes]

Dredge the Rio Grande deeper and much wider. Float navy cruisers along its length. West of El Paso dig a trench to the Pacific and do the same thing. Then as a final act to stop all who would want to cross, dome it with smooth clear glass in its entirety. That way if anyone did dare to dig into it we could use a poisonous gas in it to stop the illegals. Heck, just keep the gas in the dome full time! That way we wouldn't have to waste the naval resources.

The Rio Grande is not America's to dredge because half of it belongs to Mexico.

It might not be long before the Mexicans put up a fence to stop Americans going there for health care, the same drugs are a quarter of the price in Mexico and they have Universal Health Care.
Some Americans are driving many hundreds of miles to buy drugs in Mexico to keep themselves alive while living in the richest most unfair country in the world.

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2010/may/19/why-americans-choose-health-care-mexico/

 

[essentialsaltes]

Why not give Mexican farm workers visas to work for the season then they would not be classed as illegals? ...
This could already be the way it works for all I know, if it is please ignore this post.

There are some past and present guest-worker visa programs in the US, but we could do more here. It would provide a good way to convert 'illegal' workers into legal workers, without granting a general amnesty. George W Bush's idea to reform the system was one of the few good ideas he ever had. (I assume someone else came up with it.)

 

[bhsmte]

Why does immigration matter this much to some people? Just wondering.

It isn't immigration which is the issue, it is illegal immigration which is the issue.

 

[bhsmte]

I have no idea how to best secure the border and don't pretend to know.

What I am confident in, is we can not maintain the current level of illegal immigration and something needs to be done to greatly reduce that amount.

 

[Jan Volkes]

It isn't immigration which is the issue, it is illegal immigration which is the issue.

What do illegal immigrants take from the US? can they claim any benefits?

 

[JustOneWay]

It isn't immigration which is the issue, it is illegal immigration which is the issue.

Considering 25% to 40% of the illegals first came over as legal immigrants and failed to leave after their visa's expired, makes both related.

 

[Albion]

Why does immigration matter this much to some people? Just wondering.

Immigration doesn't.

Illegal immigration does.

And unlimited immigration does.

 

[stamperben]

Immigration doesn't.

Illegal immigration does.

And unlimited immigration does.

Why?

 

[Hank77]

<STAFF EDIT>

Why not give Mexican farm workers visas to work for the season then they would not be classed as illegals?

We already do this. Farmers who use migrated workers are required to build decent housing, laundry facilities, etc. on their farms for the workers that come there for about 3-4 months out of the whole year. One of our friends built a really nice playground, with all the equipment, for the workers children. But then he and his family are Christians and family orientated.

any illegal workers found working there would cost the farmer a substantial fine and the illegal would be deported, that alone would reduce the cost by half at least.

We already do this.

Expanding guest worker programs might well reduce the need for giant fences and drones and guard dogs. If you can be with family some of the time and make much more than you would back home, some of this problem solves itself.

The reason I want something done is because of the criminals that come here, are sent back, come back again, .....
They are the ones causing the biggest issues and are doing so much harm to those who just want to work for the betterment of their families.
<STAFF EDIT>