Should active duty military be used to secure the borders and ensure the safety of our nation?

Seems to be more of a National Guard mission to me personally.

The US Military is very capable of defending US borders. The question becomes one of law, mission, training and will. The first three can be handled without too much trouble, if the fourth (will) is in favor of actually securing the borders. It will take a President and Congress willing to recognize the influx of illegal aliens entering the US as an invasion--a clear and present danger to the nation. Too many politicians see illegals as potential voters right now.

The DOD knows how to secure a geographical area. The DOD has studied this mission in the past. In the 1980s we determined it would take several Army Divisions, Air Force Squadrons, and Navy and Coast Guard ships to do the job on the Southern border. The concern then was drugs more than illegal people entering the US. These wouldn't be force deployments, but repositioning and re-missioning of forces currently garrisoned in the US. Technology has improved, so the surveillance part of the mission may take fewer people today, but the enforcement part--catching the invaders--is still manpower intensive.

We must make potential illegal border crossers believe it is too hard and too expensive to cross the border and the flow will greatly decrease or stop. As pointed out earlier in this string, the use of deadly force is a major problem. The rules of engagement for US military personnel are very important. We don't want to indiscriminately shoot people crossing the border when we could capture them and return them. However, the military personnel must have the right to defend themselves. We also have to accept that there will be unfortunate instances of the excessive use of force and be ready to deal with them appropriately. Passive border protection means can be effective in stopping the "invasion." Fences, sensors, satellites, drones, etc., can be used to detect and possibly deter the invaders. Strategic communication to the populations in Central and South America can also help stem the flow. Would-be illegals must believe they will face great physical difficulty in crossing the border, and if they do make it across capture or death may result (we don't actually have to kill them, just make them think we would).

Finally, we have to effectively remove the factors that draw people to enter the US illegally (includes overstaying visa). Note that very few West Berliners tried to "escape" into East Berlin while many East Berliners risked their lives to escape to the West. We need to aggressively seek and capture illegal aliens and deport them at every opportunity in a very public way. The laws preventing hiring of illegals need to be enforced. We need to prevent illegals from getting Government hand outs, welfare, Medicade, etc., in a serious and effective way. And, we need to absolutely block any path to citizenship to those who are in the US illegally. If the incentive of a better life, good job and Government freebies is removed, the flow of illegals will greatly decrease making border enforcement easier.

I voted no, though it's really a two part answer. The US military should defend the border when there is a threat from a foreign military or equally dangerous adversary. The US military should not be used to catch illegal immigrants, drug smugglers, and other activities that are criminal in nature... that is what we have law enforcement and other government agencies for. There are plenty of agencies better equipped to catch terrorists in the US as well... we don't need the active duty military doing that.

The military should be used to seek out the enemy and destroy it... not to sit on a fence in the United States... in my personal opinion.