Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is calling for the use of drones to step up surveillance and destroy caves that smugglers use to move people and drugs along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“There are caves that they utilize. Those caves can be eliminated. There are a number of possibilities — that could be one of them,” Carson told Jim Acosta Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” as he spoke from Columbia, South Carolina.
It’s not the first time that Carson has suggested using drones to secure the border.
Last week after a tour of the area, the retired neurosurgeon said he was open to the idea. But on Sunday he insisted his previous comments were taken out of context because he never meant that he wanted to target immigrants.
“I’m not talking about killing people. No people with drones,” he insisted. “Drones can help with the surveillance. In no way did I suggest that drones be used to kill people.”
Carson has been climbing in the polls following his performance in the first GOP presidential debate and his recent criticism of Planned Parenthood. Last week’s CNN/ORC national poll has him in third place after Donald Trump and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
Watch the video of Carson’s interview on CNN below.