The National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) endorsed Republican Diane Harkey for Congress on Tuesday, citing her support for public safety, understanding of the need to “improve border security,” and commitment to repairing America’s “broken immigration system.”

“Diane Harkey has a proven record of working with public safety agencies to ensure secure communities,” said NBPC President Brandon Judd. “Diane understands the need to improve border security. As a member of Congress, Diane will work to secure the border and repair our broken immigration system.”

“Security at the border is necessary to maintain basic sovereignty and security in our country,” Harkey said in response. “The United States Border Patrol and our ICE agents need our support as they show up every day to do a job less appreciated. I am humbled by the endorsement of the NBPC and am excited to work with them as their next Congresswoman for District 49.”

In a recent interview with Breitbart News, Harkey emphasized, “Congress needs to act” on immigration policy. She pointed to years of case law that has muddled immigration laws and the need for Congress to pass immigration law that would shore up the ability to enforce immigration law in the courts.

Harkey also voiced support for President Donald Trump’s promised southern border wall. “You need that border security. Border Patrol needs the protection. You need to have ICE officials working cooperatively,” she told Breitbart News. “You need to have a policy that prevents the recurrence, which is what Reagan never had.”

“He was promised the one side,” she said, “but he never got the security functions … needed to be sure you could police who was coming across your borders.”

Harkey is the highest-ranking elected Republican in California. She and Democrat lawyer Mike Levin are competing to replace retiring Rep. Darrell Issa as the representative for California’s 49th Congressional District. Her campaign specified that she currently represents 9.5 billion taxpayers in areas including Orange and San Diego Counties.

NBPC is a representative for agents and support staff of the U.S. Border Patrol.

Michelle Moons is a White House Correspondent for Breitbart News — follow on Twitter @MichelleDiana and Facebook.