NOGALES, Ariz. (KGUN9-TV) - Arizona is in the spotlight among 2016 presidential candidates as most are focusing on immigration and securing the border.
Congresswoman Martha McSally is responsible for 85 miles of border in Cochise County alone.
McSally has held a series of meetings with ranchers to talk about securing the border, but she says the cartels present a clear and present danger to their safety.
McSally says securing the border begins with a change in strategy.
"The agents are concentrating on what's called the defense in depth strategy where they have some agents at the border, but then they sort of layer further back, sometimes 100 miles inland, so one of the things I've been pushing on is we've got to take the assets that we have and we've got to concentrate them at the border. This is what I hear from our border ranchers and residents all the time."
"This is a very important and public safety and national security issue. I really think if we just put a smart strategy together, use the assets that we have in a better way to get operational control and strong situational awareness. We can address the issue and secure the border and I hope the next president has a political will to do that."
McSally is one of only nine members of Congress that represent the Southern border district and as you just heard she invites all presidential candidates to see the border first hand.
Presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson toured the Southern border back in October.
FULL INTERVIEW WITH CONGRESSWOMAN MCSALLY:
