2/1/2012
Benson, AZ

Emily MF'ing Fortman
Sorensen
Okay, living in Arizona this is a very touchy subject. Honestly, America should have work programs to help the less fourtunate in Mexico where local farms give oppurtunities to Mexicans living near the border. But Security on the border should be incresased because of all the Illegals coming over and taking our good paying jobs.

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2/1/2012
Porterville, California

John
Mr. Smith
In my opinion, I feel that the Obama Administration isn't exactly doing the job right due to seeing population grow substantially. What we need more of the bureaucrats from the department of homeland security to come to the Southwest to insure the safety of National Security.

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1/31/2012
Warrenton,VA

Samantha
Auburn middle mrs.yergin
There probably already are a bunch of troops surrounding the border but why not put more of them or even come up with a machine to watch the border. Or we could but this huge fence around the border that goes hundreds of feet bellow the ground so that nobody can go over or under it. I think that since we had so many inventors in our country we should invent a machine or a gun or something so that the border is secure.

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1/22/2012
Irving/TX

Carly T
Bradley/Nimitz
While I'm sure our U.S. Troops will be grateful for some technological help, technology wont win the border battle. It's clear by the number of illegal immigrants in Texas alone that there aren't enough troops down on the border. If real people guarding the line isn't enough, replacing them with flying cameras is not going to miraculously cure the problem. More security and aerial assistance definitely won't hurt the issue and will most likely increase the success rate of our troops, but the amount of troops does not and cannot change. Seeing as border monitoring is out of control as is, cameras aren't going to replace half our troops, since our troops don't even have the situation handled.

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1/22/2012
Aurora,Ohio

Matt V.
Mr.Frankmann/Harmon
I think this issue is Spending too much money on hiring guards and getting the fence materials to build and too much money for the fence itself. I think we should stop buying fences and hire more people. I think if we did this many people would apply for this job because of the unemployment line. Also it would be less expensive if we hired people instead of bough fences. Also Many people get across the border every day and the fences aren't working as well as they could. This would help the increase of illegal immigrants crossing the border if the people applying for the job are trained and equally spread across the border to catch them.

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1/22/2012
Aurora/Ohio

Parker
Frankmann/Harmon
I think that the U.S. is doing a good thing by cutting the cost in half for deploying troops as border control. They can do it without having to worry, because the drones are also there. The drones were a very good idea, because they can see things that a person could not. They will improve security. I think that the citizens of Mexico should be able to cross over to the U.S. as long as they are honest about it. Why move to America if you are going to hide anyway? I think that the U.S. is handling this in a good way.

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1/22/2012
Aurora, Ohio

Oliver H
Mrs. Tyrell / Harmon Middle School
Although what these people are doing is wrong, they have a reason. Their country is having many problems with government, drugs, and economy. They are trying to come to the greatest country in the world to get better lives for themselves and their families, not to hurt us Americans. But then again, they are illegally coming into our country and the few that make it are not paying the taxes that we have to. I think the USA should let the immigrants in and lower the security on the border. The Mexican and American government has to work this out together and make it fair for everybody in both countries. Also we can put some American troops in Mexico to help lower drug usage so less people would try to cross the border. I put this on the National Discussion website.

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1/20/2012
benson az

Ryan
Mr.Sorensen/Benson Unified School District
My thoughts about how the U.S. should protect its border with Mexico is that we should get all the troops away from there so that they can help in other places in the country and line the border with drones so that nothing can get through, though nothing can get through anyways though some get through the tunnels.

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1/20/2012
Irving/Texas

Taylor G.
Bradley/Nimitz
I think that the Obama administration is not undermining its border objectives. Spending money effectively on drones not only helps the border situation, but also economically does so while also improving unmanned aircraft technology and techniques. Though it can be argued that it takes away jobs, in a very limited way, in the long run, it creates more. There has to be people trained to actually command the drone, to program it, and to perform maintenance on the aircraft. It can even be said that less oil is used on the planes that “glide” in the air, while having a tremendous range of “sight” than people on ATVs and trucks that have a very limited sight. Drones would also be discouraging to those attempting to cross because there would be nowhere to hide form a drone with infrared cameras. Though most desperate people trying to improve their lives will still try to cross, those smuggling drugs would probably cease their attempts. In the end, drones will be the way to go in securing our border with Mexico.

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1/20/2012
Irving, Tx

Jocelyn E.
Bradley/Nimitz
I believe that the US has its right to choose how to defend it's borders. A fence can keep the people out during the day, with assistance from border patrol, but at night the drones are highly effective since people can't see very well at night. I think that the number of troops should be decreased over time based on the effectiveness of the drones. Protecting the border would help keep illegals out that have no desire to become legal, and help keep out illegal drugs. If they want freedom they should earn it like many others.

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1/19/2012
Irving/Texas

Randie
Bradley/Nimitz
I believe that the U.S. Government can secure its borders by putting a tall and long concrete wall around the barbed wire fences that are already in place. That way it will make it harder to try and cross the border. Yes, I think that the increase in drones will be really effective in helping against illegal and unwanted crossings. I don't think that they should lessen the number of troops till 300, just in case the drones are really effective. But overtime I think that they can slowly decrease the number of troops as time goes by.

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1/19/2012
Irving, Tx

Adam
Bradley, Nimitz High School
I believe that the course of action that is being taken will be effective. A high tech machine is more likely to spot people then just the average human sight, by cutting down the cost of boarder security we are saving valuable money that could be used for other more useful things. No matter what security measures are placed people will still continue to sneak into our country without legal citizenship, I believe that we need to find a way to help these immigrants instead of raising tighter security. If we were able to help immigrants in a timely and not overly expensive manor then maybe they would not feel the need to come over illegally.

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1/19/2012
Irving, Tx

Areli
Bradley/ Nimitz
The U.S. should focus more on trying to sort out what type of illegals they want out and try to help the ones that are crossing over for safety purposes. I agree and believe that we should increase drones to keep out the dangerous illegals such as the Zetas and other criminals. Men cannot see in the dark and they do not have infrared vision, so the use of drones would be highly beneficial on their part. We need to lessen the troops with more weapons and place troops on stations in the mountains and such...not shoot to kill, but to wound and slow them down. A fence will NOT keep anyone out...unless it's electric all of the way around.

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1/19/2012
irving/ Tx

Itzel
Bradley/ Nimitz
Being Hispanic, I understand that most Hispanic citizens believe that the whole immigration aspect is unfair. I can see where they are coming from, but personally, I don't agree with the rest of my race. Is there U.S government in their right to secure it's border? Yes. Will the increase in the drones fight illegal crossings? I think so, it would definitely decrease the amount of immigrants that will attempt to cross that border illegally. Not only that, but it will decrease the amount of money spent on the whole issue. Meaning less patrolling officers, and more money towards other things that shouldn't have to be an issue. I can't say it would be enough, because in all reality, immigrants will always try to cross that border. It will surely though, come to some convenience to the U.S government patrol.

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1/17/2012
Benson/Arizona

Paxton
Mr.Sorensen/Benson Unified School District
My thoughts about the about the boreder is that all the border lines are locked up so hevey a fly cant get through and then our men can be used to do other important things. if anything we need to get them out first. increase driones and fire power, lessen the trrops with more armaments.

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1/13/2012
Benson AZ

Chace
Marv Sorensen
The troops should not be withdrawn. The Zetas or the Mexican national police that were hired out to help protect the drug runs and people trafficking pose a huge threat. They were trained by the United State Army Rangers. I have personally been shot at while spelunking in the Huachuca mountains. It is a war zone, they are equipped with fully automatic ak-47 assault rifle and many other weapons. I do not doubt that they have anti vehicle capacity. The drones should be accompanying armed patrols of U.S. national guard (or Force Recon Marines) along the border. Ranchers have been murdered on their own property, Border patrol agents gunned downed while off duty. They are fighting a war, and its time we fought it too. The border patrol should be pulled back restricted to the check points only, the number of drones increased to ten, and the national guardsmen increased from 1,200 to 2,000 and we need to respond with the same kind of ruthless force they are attacking with if not greater. This is our country, our land, our lives. We should not live our lives based upon their incursions. I feel a team of Force recon snipers should be stationed atop the peak of every Mountian. To hunt them, just as they have hunted us. To keep them out. To scare them. A house on the lot behind the one my aunt lives on was raided by the border patrol, they went in with S.W.A.T. and a helicopter even. The house was less then one hundred yards away. The illegals in there had rifles quite capable of that range. A friend of mind has seen them on her property, they cut her fence and camped in her yard. She is afraid to go home, to sleep there at night and keeps a weapon with her at all times. Two weeks ago I was jogging on the roads in my neighbor hood. There was illegal in a wash. He was armed, I was not, I was a quarter mile form my home, from a phone and my weapons. They have already invaded our land and killed our people an act of war lets treat it like one.

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1/13/2012
Benson AZ

dakota williams
benson high
the drones are good to a point they find a lot of people, but it does go it to are fredoom and are privice.