GOP Senate Candidate Kelli Ward Backs National Guard at Mexican Border

Republican Senate candidate Kelli Ward of Arizona favors deploying the National Guard at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Ward, running for the seat being vacated by Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., made her comments during an interview Wednesday on Fox News.

Trump is planning to send the National Guard to the Mexican border to bolster security until his wall is built.

Noting her husband served in the military for 33 years, Ward said the National Guard is prepared for the mission.

"And we have got to do something to stop people from getting into our country illegally," she said. "It has been detrimental to our economy. It's been detrimental to healthcare, education, public safety (and) corrections.

"We've got to secure the border. That means building the wall, but until we build the wall I think this is a great option. It's easy for people to come across that border. People who are bringing drugs, illegal guns, human trafficking…

"I think strategically deploying the National Guard or military to secure the border, especially utilizing cooperative states like Arizona and Texas for that National Guard presence, you could move the border patrol to California and New Mexico if they aren't being as cooperative with the president in his effort to secure the border. So, there is a lot we can do."

But she noted President Donald Trump's border wall must be built.

"We've got to support President Trump in his efforts to build the wall," she said. "We have to actually fund the wall and then construct it."

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