[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Can anyone see a downside?

My first thought was the necessity for these new border guards to be armed. Thus, I see the potential for a number of unfortunate shootings as a result of the lack of quality recruits entering this new civil service. They would need to be very well trained before being unleashed.

It's one thing to mold a Marine recruit to kill in a foriegn land. Quite another to unleash a less qualified individual on our own soil toting the same weaponry...or close to it.

All of which can be dealt with by selecting quality applicants and training them properly.

[Cold Heat]

My first thought was the necessity for these new border guards to be armed.

Frankly, I see no reason for all of them to be armed. Modern non-lethal defensive weapons would be sufficient. An armed special unit could cover any situations where arms may be needed. (regarding the Mexicali's)

[Cold Heat]

I think the training that these folks should get would be more in line with the MP type training. Courses in law and crowd control, hand to hand and police type training would be the best. Some basic weapons training would be required, but not emphasized.

try not to think in military terms, but more along police and security lines.

[BADROTOFINGER]

Regarding your post, training might be more problematic. Have you ever read Lines and Shadows by Joseph Wambaugh? A pretty good true story about, in some ways, what we are talking about here...JFK