Secure Our Borders

In the on-going discussion of immigration policy, there has been a call to "secure our borders" What, exactly does this mean?

My home is secure. No one can peaceably enter without my consent. I am secure because I have walls and locks (and an alarm system)

So, is that what is meant by a "secure" border? Secure, because no one can enter without the consent of the country? Just how would the US go about securing our borders?

The most common concept appears to be a fence, running the length of the border with sensors and cameras and such to prevent anyone from entering without consent.

There are historic models that can be examined for efficacy. Hadrians Wall was built to secure the Romans from the maruading Scots. The Great Wall of China was built to secure the empire from the outside armies. In the 20th Century, the Berlin Wall was built, not to secure East Berlin but to prevent the citizens of East Berlin from emigrating to the West.

All three of these "Border Security" events failed in their purpose.

Why would one here be any better?

The Berlin wall appears to be the closest approximation to what is needed here. Are we willing to pay for a barier of ths magnitude? Are we eager to create "Dead zones" of land mines along our Southern border? Who will we hire, train and ORDER to shoot to kill people attempting to cross into our territory?

What do you REALLY mean by "Border Securtiy" and what are you willing to pay?

It seems a bit disingenous to call for a delay in discussing an over-haul of immigration until we "secure our borders" when we are not willing to either expend the necessary monies to build a barrier or to engage in the security behavior that would make such a barrier secure.

Let me re-phrase that last remark: Are we absolutely willing to post soldiers with "Shoot to kill" orders along our border?