I know, unfortunately my ability to articulate this issue lags far behind the passion I have for it. Sorry, I wasn't trying to insult you, I just don't see how you can say with certainty that the INS/Border Patrol can't shut down the border when you have not worked for the INS. As you already know you are in good company even among Border Patrol Agents that believe the problem is insurmountable.
I work with Agents that believe we can't shut down border as well. I think such an attitude is defeatist and at times self serving for the Agents. The Border Patrol Agents that I work with know very well that the INS has not tried to shut down the border. In 1999 the national union for the Border Patrol went before Congress to advise them that line Agents were being told not to chase illegal aliens. Supervisors were ordering agents to cover up alien traffic. Supervisors were manipulating numbers to show lower apprehension statistics. Even today we have numerous restrictions and policies that prevent us from enforcing immigration laws. People like you look at the Border Patrol and think that we are trying real hard to stop illegal immigration. This perception is absolutely false. While individual Agents work hard, the Service as a whole is not doing a damn thing!