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Subject: US Military Solution to the Immigration Issue
smitty237    5/24/2006 2:35:00 AM
I have commented fairly frequently on this site for some time, but this is the first time that I have actually started a topic, so bear with me. I originally posted this on the "Armed Forces of the World" thread, but got only one response. It seems that most of the readers of that thread are only interested in theoretical or historical topics. I decided to post here and see what readers concerned with Mexican national security issues had to say. I firmly believe that the first step in dealing with the issue of illegal immigration from Mexico is to seal the southern border. The US Border Patrol is incapable of doing this alone. The President has announced that he is going to send 6,000 National Guard troops to assist the Border Patrol, but few believe that such a token force, with little or no enforcement ability, could effectively close the border. I would recommend that an active duty Army division be formed with its sole mission being the monitoring of the border with Mexico. The Army could either create a new division altogether, or perhaps reactivate a deactivated division (for some reason the 9th ID comes to mind as a good candidate). This new division would be a light infantry or motorized division, since heavy armor wouldn't really be needed. I would include battalions equipped with Strykers and Bradleys to operate in rough terrain, but for the most part infantry and scout units would be deployed to their areas of operation by humvee or truck. Units could then establish a series of LP/OPs at various points along the border, and squads could conduct patrols looking for infiltrators. Artillery units be mostly unnecessary, but perhaps they could provide illumination if requested (mortar companies could also provide this service if located closely enough). To get around posse comitatus laws I would recommend that a law enforcement official accompany all Army patrols. There are not enough Border Patrol agents to do this, but the creation of a federal border enforcement task force would allow state, county, and municipal law enforcement officers to enforce American immigration laws. Such task forces exist all over the nation for various purposes. I would also include a rapid reaction unit of perhaps battalion or even company strength that could respond quickly to areas of sudden activity. This unit could be deployed by helicopter, or perhaps there could even be an airborne (parachute) company that could be dropped into remote area by aircraft (I might be dreaming here, but I think perhaps airborne qualified troops should be included in this mission). This new division could be augmented by regular Army and National Guard brigades that could be rotated into the region every couple of months or so. I would also include Marine units and Navy SEAL teams so that everyone would get a slice of the pie. Air Force squadrons could fly recon patrols using their FLIR pods to spot illegals, and Air Force forward air controllers could accompany some ground patrols. Air Force pararescue operators could be available for search and rescue missions. The creation of such a division would be expensive, but since it would not include tanks or artillery, it would not be cost as much as most regular Army divisions. Soldier assigned to this unit would have to undergo special training, but I don't think that this would be that big of a deal. Service along the border would be somewhat dull and monotonous, but it would be safer than serving in Iraq or Afghanistan, and I have to believe that many soldiers would rather serve stateside if give the option. Perhaps veteran soldiers nearing the end of their commitment would opt to serve in this unit. Anyways, just a thought that I have been kicking around. I am anxious to read what you guys think about this. I served as a grunt in a National Guard unit in the 1990's and have served as a municipal police officer for the last twelve years, so I am the first to admit that I don't know a lot about Army operations higher than battalion level, but I have to believe that the Army could effectively seal the border relatively quickly. Lemme have it.
 
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displacedjim    RE:US Military Solution to the Immigration Issue   5/24/2006 10:54:12 AM
I think your idea is outstanding. I was thinking something similar myself. As I understand the president's plan, we will be constantly detailing 6000 ARNG personnel to border security; however, this does not mean only 6000 soldiers are involved. Rather, 6000 at a time would do two-week stints, replaced every two weeks by 6000 new ARNG soldiers, such that it would involve 6000 x 26 = 156,000 ARNG troops each year. Based on the coincidence of the specified "two weeks" duration and the fact that NG and Reserve troops serve a two week annual tour of active duty each year, I'm guessing that possibly the plan includes the idea that the Guardsmen involved in this plan would serve their annual tour on the border. I have a couple reservations with that idea. One, what impact will this border security duty have on the training and readiness levels of all those troops if/when they are activated for real-world GWOT duty? They've used up their annual tour driving up and down the border instead of clearing hot houses (or whatever). Two, none of these border security troops and their leadership will have more than two weeks experience at their task, as they will be continuously replaced every two weeks. I guess that's okay if all they are are bodies showing the flag, but if they want to actually become proficient at keeping the border secure I'd think a little more dedication to the mission would be in order. I'd much rather see something basically like what you also thought of, and raise a new unit specially geared toward border defense as their mission. If regular army, then just as you said. If ARNG, then if possible maybe several brigades that are spread out through the CA, AZ, NM, and TX Guard organizations. If the latter, then obviously there needs to be a special consideration for how those states are bearing the burden for us all, and HQ ARNG (or whatever higher is called) needs to pony up a bunch of money. I don't know how it works for ARNG, but in the USAFR there are pots of money for the annual tour, for "weekend drill," and for additional duty days above the required minimum (the latter are commonly referred to as "mandays"). DoD would have to guarantee a large commitment to plenty of "mandays" for these special border patrol brigades. As for personnel to fill out these new brigades, they could come from the border state's Guard units, but also the recruiting effort could be nationwide and emphasize giving people from across America a way to help keep America secure that doesn't entail getting deployed overseas, with opportunity to work anywhere from "just" the standard minimum requirement of two weeks plus 24 days all the way up to full-time (using "mandays"). Displacedjim
 
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Mex101    RE:US Military Solution to the Immigration Issue   5/26/2006 2:51:30 PM
The fact is that many Middle and High income Mexicans in Mexico are starting to look done on ANY immigrants to the US. There are some 30-40 million people that are poor in Mexico. Many of them have decided to rough it out. Many more want out. If you have hundreds of mile to patrol against thousands of annual Illegal's, I say It was a dumb move to have such an limited number of officers on the border since Mexico declared it independence! The fact is that More man power is needed. Perhaps an Mexican patrol in Mexico to act as an early warning sys. Have a couple thousand officers in the area with GPS trackers and a lot of other gismos and report and "Suspicious" activity to their counter parts up north so they no what to expect. A real treaty concerning this issue will be better than one or two independent laws. For example The US agrees not to build "The Great Wall of America" The US increases legal immigration slots The US increases funding and support to Anti Drug operations The Republica (Nick name we use for "Mejico") agrees to this "Early warning sys". The Republica agrees to catching cayoties and The Republica will also increase more Poor oriented programs to discourage Illegal Immigration. so, what do you think? "To the Escape Pod! I REGRET NOTHING!!"
 
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smitty237    RE:US Military Solution to the Immigration Issue   5/26/2006 7:17:41 PM
The conventional wisdom in the United States is that illegal immigration is vital to the Mexican economy because it gets rid of millions of poor Mexicans. Once they secure jobs in the United States they send home billions of dollars to family members back in Mexico. One could argue that poor people are Mexico's most valuable export. That said, why would Mexico help us by providing an early warning system? If anything, the Mexican government has facilitated the movement of illegal immigrants into the United States. I agree that Mexico has to do more to help poor people in the country and provide opportunities, but in order to do so a lot of corrupt officials would have to stop lining their pockets and I just don't see that happening.
 
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Pseudonym    RE:US Military Solution to the Immigration Issue   6/15/2006 5:49:57 PM
"If anything, the Mexican government has facilitated the movement of illegal immigrants into the United States." I'm hoping that once our population begins to show a majority of Mexican Americans that we can finally get around to fixing the real problem, of which the border's immigration problem is just a symptom. Here's a wild idea, instead of dealing with this massive problem flowing over our border, why don't we fix Mexico? I know, it's crazy right? Actually fix the problem instead another delaying measure. Who would ever think of solving the problem at the source these days, it's just so un-PC... Crap once we have a large enough Mexican population we might as well just annex Mexico, Spanish is already becoming our second official language anyways... Coming soon to a map near you, the American State of Chihuahua!!! Anyways, I know that will never happen, but I always feel bad when I see a situation like Mexico. Too bad they are so proud when it comes to foreigners, if only they would have that pride when dealing with corrupt Mexican officials we might not be having this conversation...
 
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Mex101    RE:US Military Solution to the Immigration Issue   6/15/2006 7:51:44 PM
>>Anyways, I know that will never happen, but I always feel bad when I see a situation like Mexico. Too bad they are so proud when it comes to foreigners, if only they would have that pride when dealing with corrupt Mexican officials we might not be having this conversation... << You know that pride is out of ignorance, accoreding to the "good book" and they say that a person is smart but people are just down right stupid.
 
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