Rather, create an efficient border patrol branch of the military, and rotate personnel periodically.

something needs to be done, especially in the era of terrorism. it is easier for an illegal alien to get across the u.s./mexican border than it is for me, an american citizen, to cross the border legally into canada.

You can't. They're in Iraq.

Without an Act of Congress, use of federal troops or the federalized National Guard to patrol the Border violates the Posse Comitatus Act. Please see 18 U.S.C. 1385:

"Whoever, except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress, willfully uses any part of the Army or the Air Force as a posse comitatus or otherwise to execute the laws shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than two years, or both."

The illegal immigration problem is complex and won't be solved unless society (via its agent the government) implements and enforces several changes. One of these (the others to be addressed in related comments) is to defend the borders, especially the southern border. One must start by acknowledging that a nationstate defined by culture or ethnicity cannot survive or effectively control its labor costs without controlling who is allowed to be a part of that society and labor pool (as evidenced by history). As a result of the current lax border policies, American culture and labor pool is destined to be altered by foreign influences (good and bad). Such policies also foster a culture of disrespect for sovereignty and rule of law, both of which are necessary for an orderly and modern nationstate. Regarding illegal labor, border security is essentially a control of the supply but must be implemented in conjunction with an increase in supply of willing legal labor. (All other things equal, employers certainly would prefer legal labor over illegal labor due to penalties, etc.) Nevertheless, this factor alone (assuming for the moment that the government would have the political will to make this change) would not suffice to solve the problem as other changes must be made (e.g. lowering the minimum wage and societal expectations) as the legal labor supply must be increased. With this said, using the National Guard for border defense can only be considered a short-term solution (hence the three stars), as an expanded Border Patrol would be better trained and equipped for this purpose and such use would be an undue burden on the border states for a national problem.

They're illegal: i.e. breaking the law! They must be stopped.

Please. Security risks? Has even one Mexican immigrant every committed an act of terrorism? Like the National Guard has nothing better to do.

If needed to supplement border patrol agents then this may be adviseable, but a more practical and appropriate approach would be to invest more funds in the recruitment of additional border security officials and to improve their capabilities.

I think this must be done for the next four years given our current border predicament.

I have always thought that it would make more sense to utilize our military to protect our own country rather than send them storming into the Middle East on a so-called freedom fight. I was all for finding Bin Laden and his band of zealots - but I don't recall the people of Iraq or any other country asking us for help. Meanwhile, we sit with all doors wide open acting as stupid and clueless as a group of dimwits who have little recolection of what happened in September 2001. I don't think it makes sense to stop immigration entirely regardless of the direction of the flow. Just, for God's sake, put someone in charge of sorting it out and keeping track of things better.

I am willing to have my taxes increased for this. . .

Well,we're too busy in the Iraq quagmire to do much to defend our own borders aren't we? Lucky we're not embroiled in something worse like Iran,Korea or China,huh? Ever hear the saying that "the Fish stinks from the Head?"

I agree wholeheartedly with tboneya on this one. Go to NumbersUSA.com to do something. This is a nonpartisan site.