[rodguy911]

One of the big controversies is the fence/wall. It's been priced out several times and every time it comes in at 5-10 billion to do the job first class. That would include, sensors, a double fence with razor wire,a concrete wall in certain areas, a moat,cameras, manned veichles patrolling the perimeter, and numerous border gates to be installed at key areas to avoid huge backups.

Other than first class it's probably not worth doing. This would stop a huge percentage of the illegals from walking right across and the associated problems we have with border enforcement.

I repeat a country without borders will cease to be a country.

[MNJohnnie]

Cheap at 3 times the price. BUILD it.

[don-o]

comes in at 5-10 billion to do the job first class.

That seems low. Plus what is the ongoing expense of patrolling such?

[Phsstpok]

My idea is that we do the fence/wall (the right way, as you suggest) in conjunction with an expansion of the current Coast Guard into a Home Guard that has responsibility for not only our port and sea lanes but also our borders. Beyond that they would also form the core of a rapid reaction force for either natural disaster or terrorist response.

Look at the spectacular successes they had (ignored by the drive by media) during Katrina.

I'd base the new units on the structure of a Marine Expeditionary Unit and base them at strategic points along our southern border (Yuma, Tucson, El Paso and Laredo, for example). They'd have responsibility for fixed sections of the border but be available to respond to disaster or attacks, as needed. In addition they'd provide the traditional "first responder" role of the Coast Guard, just to land locked areas.

Expanding on the Coast Guard instead of inventing a new organization should solve most of the problems that the gargantuan DHS has run into. The CG has an excellent infrastructure and command structure as well as a wonderful tradition to build on. They also don't fall under Posse Comitatus, so would have full police powers.