You may be forgetting that intel was my specialty during my stint. It would not be overly hard to park a few BP/FBI types in the S2 shops of who-ever is commanding the troops on the border, and also embedding some BP ride-alongs with the troops on patrol to do the intel gathering when they catch a group.
By the by, I personally would confine the military to a 12 mile (from the border, north) operational corridor. Similar to territorial waters, but reversed and on land. The only time they could deviate from this corridor would be in active pursuit of folks illegally crossing.
Sure, it wouldn't be hard.
Assuming that US LE agencies, and the military, were anything other than a flusterlcuck at all levels.
In order for your (by the way, EXCELLENT) plan to work, it would require a complete dismantling and rebuilding of the organizational structure of CPB/ICE/DHS/ZOMGWTFBBQ
Which would be a good thing, sure.
None of what you have said is false. However, that's NOT the situation we have, and it's not the situation we'll get.
So, in the meantime, again... I see very little malice in HSI having armored vehicles.
EDIT: I'm sorry... I'm not articulating myself well.
Here's a summary
FACT: kgbsquirrel's plan would be awesome. Especially if coupled with a pullout from everywhere else.
- We don't have that, and won't anytime soon.
- There are some situations in which armored vehicles are applicable/useful in CPB/ICE/HSI missions
- They probably got these mraps for st00pid cheapz
- Hence any limitations or ill-suitedness of the platform is likely outweighed by the cost savings.
Another thought. If the evil DHS (and that's not sarcastic... While I think there's plenty of folks in sub agencies who do valuable work, it's a *expletive deleted*it organization as a whole) wanted to wage war on the citizenry, I don't think they'd do it with 50 MRAPs per state (assuming the number is accurate. I'm not convinced that it is.)