An article in today's online Houston Chronicle reports that the Department of Defense is exploring ways to increase active duty military presence and assistance on the southern border of the US.

Link

Although the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 outlaws the use of the Army, Navy, and Air Force to actively persue domestic law enforcement activities, this act can be sidestepped by presidential proclamation. If the President receives a request from a state governor for assistance to quell public disorder, the President may issue a proclamation to the effect that order has broken down, and that those responsible must disperse. This restriction has been set aside recently during the Rodney King riots and Joint Task Force-Bravo, along with employing the Stafford Act which permits the president to declare a major disaster and send in military forces on an emergency basis for up to ten days to preserve life and property.

With illegal immigration being debated in the news and in the halls of congress, and the spectre of national security always rearing it's head along our porous borders:

Are local law enforcement and the US Border Patrol equipped to handle the current situation along the southern border?

Would you support a stronger military presence along the borders, especially in the south?

Do you believe the Department of Defense currently has the assets to support such a request? Why or why not?

Would such an act lead to an increased militarism of domestic law enforcement?

Are local law enforcement and the US Border Patrol equipped to handle the current situation along the southern border?

Not in the very least. They do not have the power nor the resources to effectively manage such a long border. Putting the national guard on the border may not make a huge difference but it acts as a deterrent and will give a lot of strength to our border security.

Would you support a stronger military presence along the borders, especially in the south?

I've been calling for this for months. You have the four southern border states put the national guard on the border to prevent the flow of illegal immigration. You give them some of those predator aircraft that we use in Afghanistan to catch OBL to monitor the border and we can stop it. The politicians of both parties can no longer hide this issue from the public's eyes and something must be done.

Do you believe the Department of Defense currently has the assets to support such a request? Why or why not?

Yes I do believe they have the assets. Its not as if we are putting soldiers into combat situations where their lives are in danger. We are having the National Guard do guard duties. They stand posts and monitor the border and stop the millions of illegals from flowing across the border.

Would such an act lead to an increased militarism of domestic law enforcement?

There is no evidence that would make this a reasonable argument. We have a border and that border must be respected. When it is disrespected by foreign agents than it must be made secure. This is one of the few jobs that the federal government should have. And i think that more than anything that the NG would just provide logistical support and extra manpower to help the border patrol. This isn't combat, this is making sure that our nation's laws are upheld and that we do not have millions of people of whom we do not know come streaming across the border.

Are local law enforcement and the US Border Patrol equipped to handle the current situation along the southern border?
No

Would you support a stronger military presence along the borders, especially in the south?
YES

Do you believe the Department of Defense currently has the assets to support such a request? Why or why not?

YES. The National guard and regular forces are fully capable of putting 15-30 K troops on our borders. We could even build bases near our borders to make deployment easier

Would such an act lead to an increased militarism of domestic law enforcement?

No – it will lead to better practices in some cases and, more importantly, secure borders.