(CNN)Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is open to using military drone strikes on American soil to secure the border.
"You look at some of these caves and things out there one drone strike, boom, and they're gone," Carson told reporters near the border Wednesday, according to CNN affiliate KPHO.
The retired neurosurgeon discussed illegal immigration following a helicopter tour of the U.S.-Mexico border, as well as smuggling and scout locations.
"I'm suggesting we do what we need to do to secure the border -- whatever that is," Carson said. CNN has reached out to the Carson campaign to clarify whether he'd back lethal force from drones on the border.
Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, John Kasich, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders,
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Businessman Donald Trump announced June 16 at his Trump Tower in New York City that he is seeking the Republican presidential nomination. This ends more than two decades of flirting with the idea of running for the White House.
"So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement.
"So, ladies and gentlemen, I am officially running for president of the United States, and we are going to make our country great again," Trump told the crowd at his announcement.
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Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has made a name for himself in the Senate, solidifying his brand as a conservative firebrand willing to take on the GOP's establishment. He announced he was seeking the Republican presidential nomination in a speech on March 23.
"These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant."
"These are all of our stories," Cruz told the audience at Liberty University in Virginia. "These are who we are as Americans. And yet for so many Americans, the promise of America seems more and more distant."
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Ohio Gov. John Kasich joined the Republican field July 21 as he formally announced his White House bid.
"I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University.
"I am here to ask you for your prayers, for your support ... because I have decided to run for president of the United States," Kasich told his kickoff rally at the Ohio State University.
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Hillary Clinton launched her presidential bid on April 12 through a video message on social media. The former first lady, senator and secretary of state is considered the front-runner among possible Democratic candidates.
"Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey."
"Everyday Americans need a champion, and I want to be that champion -- so you can do more than just get by -- you can get ahead. And stay ahead," she said in her announcement video. "Because when families are strong, America is strong. So I'm hitting the road to earn your vote, because it's your time. And I hope you'll join me on this journey."
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Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, announced his run in an email to supporters on April 30. He has said the United States needs a "political revolution" of working-class Americans to take back control of the government from billionaires.
"This great nation and its government belong to all of the people and not to a handful of billionaires, their super PACs and their lobbyists," Sanders said at a rally in Vermont on May 26.
"This great nation and its government belong to all of the people and not to a handful of billionaires, their super PACs and their lobbyists," Sanders said at a rally in Vermont on May 26.
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On Tuesday, nearly 12,000 people came out to hear the retired neurosurgeon speak at the Phoenix Convention Center, according to Arizona Republican Chairman Robert Graham. The event was originally scheduled for a suburban church that seats 2,300 before being moved to a room for 6,000 people, and drew more attendees than Donald Trump at the same location last month, according to the Arizona Republic.
"We the People stood strongly holding the banner of freedom high for all to see tonight. #HealInspireRevive," Carson tweeted following the event.
Following a strong performance in the first Republican debate, Carson has solidified his spot as a top-tier candidate in the CNN/ORC poll -- and has been a consistent favorite among evangelicals.
The most recent poll from CNN has Carson in third among white evangelical voters with 11%. Trump is leading with 23% and Bush is second with 16%.
"All the pundits say it's impossible," Carson said. "I just said, 'Lord, if you want me to do it, if you open the doors, I will walk through them.'"
Faith has been a big part of Carson's appeal who landed on the national political scene after a National Prayer Breakfast speech criticizing the Affordable Care Act and other Obama Administration policies.
Carson speaks often about how his mother's strong Christian values helped turn him from a mischievous adolescent to a high-achieving student. After attending public school in inner-city Detroit, Carson headed to Yale and eventually became an internationally recognized pediatric neurosurgeon.
He has since become one of the leading candidates criticizing Planned Parenthood for allegedly selling organs and tissue from aborted fetuses.
Planned Parenthood "doesn't seem to understand the sanctity of human life and is willing to destroy that," he told CNN.
