The same goes for the southern border of the United States, the Republican presidential hopeful from South Carolina told about 60 people at Pizza Ranch, 3311 Fifth Ave. S. If Americans don’t control the southern border, it won’t be their country for long, he said.

“For me, protecting America means building the southern wall and closing the southern border,” he said to loud applause.

Construction of the wall along the southern border was started by former President Donald Trump, a Republican. When Democrat Joe Biden became president, he stopped the wall construction.

Scott claimed that Biden is selling the building materials needed for the wall. He said Congress can’t stop the president from doing that. But referring to the 2024 presidential election, Scott said, “We can fire hm.’

In addition to completing the wall, Scott introduced some other tactics he would like to use at the border.

They include:

• Using the military to stop the flow of fentanyl into the United States.

• Reinstating a public health regulation, which makes it easier for the government to deport illegal immigrants. The regulation, commonly known as Title 42, was implemented during the COVID pandemic. Scott said he would cite the deadly impact of fentanyl as the justification.

• Requiring migrants to remain in Mexico while applying for asylum.

• Targeting Mexican drug cartels.

Scott condemned the prisoner exchange with Iran completed Monday morning, saying it puts a price on the head of all Americans traveling overseas, placing them at risk.

Under the deal, Iran released five American prisoners and the United States released five Iranian prisoners. Also, South Korea paid Iran about $6 billion it owed for oil that it previously purchased.

“Paying a ransom is a terrible policy and will only put more Americans in jeopardy,” Scott said.

“They’re getting some of their guys back, which is problematic as well,” he added.

He described the deal as a “crisis for those traveling.”

Scott received another big round of applause when he declared that he believes life begins at conception. He did not talk about his position on abortion. He has been quoted in national news media as saying he supports a federal ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.