What should the United States do to control its borders?

China had a really good idea way back when:

1SG Larry Everly, the first thing we need to do is enforce the current laws, as written. We do need a comprehensive immigration reform policy; however, until we actively implement what's already written, all of the work will be considered useless.

1SG Larry Everly , unfortunately the answer is super simple yet not done. Enforce the laws that currently exist.

We as a Nation have to want it.

I vote we use the Running Man solution to keeping people from crossing certain boundries... ;o)

It’s threefold. No different than protecting your property.
1 - a secure fence (secure the border)
2 - remove the attractant (remove all eligibility for financial gain/aid, free education, etc.)
3 - ramifications (punish the law breakers on both sides)

We need immigration reform but until it impacts the majority it won’t happen. When fields, diaries, landscaping companies, etc. are seized by ICE the employers will get the picture about hiring. Until people are paying $30 for a pint of organic strawberries the consumer won’t care.

Draconian prison terms and fines for employers who who cannot show that they exercised due diligence in hiring. Same for any who facilitate an illegal immigrants stay.

1st time illegal entry - immediate deportation with no possibility of legal entry for 1 year.

2nd time illegal entry - 1 year in prison followed by deportation with no possibility of legal entry for 3 years

3rd time illegal entry - 3 years in prison followed by deportation with no possibility of legal entry ever,

4th time illegal and subsequent entries - 10 years in prison followed by deportation with no possibility of legal entry ever,

How about all those T-walls from Baghdad? Couldn't we use some of those?

We should return to the way it was at the founding, when there were no restrictions of any kind on immigration, and no permission required from anybody to come in here and look for a job. That is what built this country. Until 1921, there were no restrictions on who could come into the country other than the Chinese, and no restrictions at all prior to the Chinese exclusion act in 1882:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_United_States_immigration_legislation

The purpose of a border is to mark the limits of our governments responsibilities. It is not a defensive barrier. If there's a threat on the other side of it, go eliminate that threat.

Look at the history of defensive barriers, the Maginot Line, The great wall of China, they are ueseful for staving off defeat, not for winning, and worse than useless in peace time.

Deploy the National Guard (and active duty, if possible) and seal it up. That's the short-term fix. Longer term, I think some sort of fence, along with National Guard support to the Border Patrol would be in order. Also, video surveillance along the entire border.

I'm obviously not an expert in these issues, not even well versed, but I think those sorts of efforts will help. I might add some sort of agreement with Mexico to punish people attempting to cross the border illegally. Just some random ideas on how to stop the flood of illegal immigrants.