LEGAL Immigrants are important to the US. They come here to become part of America, not to be a drain on the system. People come here and work hard to become American citizens should be accepted as American citizens and have all the full rights and responsibilities of full American Citizens. Many of us love America enough to serve in the US Army and go to war for America. ((Sometimes I see Native born Americans who do not know how great this country is and I wish I could send them somewhere else for a year - -Bejing maybe.))
Besides this about ILLEGAL immigration Sensenbrenner is right. I think that 'copying'the Israeli wall/fence is a good idea, but it is insufficient alone. People are OK to like the idea, but they need to understand that it is not alone enough to do the job without more manpower than we currently have. We now have army technologies called Unattended Ground Sensors and Ground Surveillance Radar (17Kilo is the job) that would be force multipliers. These devices would let people monitor larger areas of terrain with fewer people. They are not hard to learn to operate.
But they still need more people than they currently have. I think that the Border Patrol may need to become more like the Coast Guard (Like Navy but not exactly - weapons and police power).
Please hope and pray that the American border patrollmen are safe from mexican enemies and from American liberal lawyers!!!!!!!
Buddha Bless the USA
We now have army technologies called Unattended Ground Sensors and Ground Surveillance Radar (17Kilo is the job) that would be force multipliers. The Border Patrol has been using ground sensors since the 1950s and I believe they are testing the ground radars as we speak. The problem is they don’t have enough of the stuff leaving large areas with little or no coverage. Ask an agent what kind of technology they need and they will tell you more sensors and better IR cameras. So what does DHS buy, a 14 million dollar Predator UAV designed for a completely different mission.
I think that the Border Patrol may need to become more like the Coast Guard.
Please no. The Border Patrol already has more authority to enforce federal law than USCC including Title 8 & 18 (immigration) Title 19 (customs) and Title 21 (delegated from DEA). Placing them under the UCMJ would not do them any favors either.
The USBP makes more arrests per agent (also with the fewest civil rights allegations) than any other law enforcement agency in the world. There are just not enough of them.
You are absolutely right however, there is no silver bullet to solving this more agents or even the National Guard alone will not be enough. We need the proper mix of agents, technology and tactual infrastructure (fences etc.) to effect real and sustained border security. Additionally interior enforcement closing the jobs magnet that drives this activity will be a critical element.