ROSWELL, N.M. – Vice President Mike Pence drew cheers during a campaign rally in New Mexico on Friday when he said the Trump administration will not back down from building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and fixing what he referred to as a broken immigration system.

Pence’s stop in the border state kicked off a swing through the Southwest, where immigration, border security and the caravan of thousands of Central American migrants headed north through Mexico have been the focus of debates and campaign ads ahead of the midterm elections.

Pence was in New Mexico to support Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce and congressional candidate Yvette Herrell.

He’s traveling next to Arizona to campaign for Martha McSally, a two-term congresswoman who is seeking a seat in the Senate. Then it’s on to Nevada.

Pence told the crowd in Roswell that more conservative voices are needed in Congress and in statehouses around the nation if progress is going to be made on border security.

He pointed to the Central American migrants, alleging that the caravan is being organized by leftist organizations and that smugglers are exploiting the migrants, with no regard for the elderly and children.

Pence reiterated a message to those in the group: “Turn around. We are not going to allow you to come into our country illegally.” That spurred chants of “Build that wall.”

The vice president said the administration will continue its efforts to build the wall, bolster security and seek changes in immigration law to ensure fairness to immigrants who are waiting in line for legal entry.

In addition to highlighting Pearce’s military and congressional records and Herrell’s stance on border security, Pence used his stop in eastern New Mexico to tout low unemployment numbers and the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.

Pence’s visit prompted criticism from Democrats in New Mexico, where the party is trying to win back the governor’s seat and flip a key congressional seat that covers the border region.