Please tell me you don't believe this is a "true conservative" principle. As Reagan said, "Government is not a solution to our problem. Government is the problem".
Are you kidding me, trying to pull this nonsense? The biggest problem with the fedgov nowadays is that it does way too much of what it shouldn't be doing and far too little of what it should be doing. That is what Reagan was referring to - unless you think his arms buildup was wrong as well (that was government, you know).
And border security is clearly a vital, enumerated function for the fedgov under the Constitution. So is legislating and controlling immigration.