Kinzinger deployed to U.S. southern border with Air National Guard

U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Channahon, who also is a pilot with the Wisconsin Air National Guard, was deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this week.

Kinzinger, who also is a lieutenant colonel, will stay within the U.S., as he has with previous border missions, according to a news release issued by his office.

“As always, our Washington, D.C., and Illinois offices will continue to serve the people of the 16th District and keep the congressman updated,” communications director Maura Gillespie said.

Kinzinger told the Chicago Sun-Times that he has had a couple of meetings with President Donald Trump to talk about national security issues, noting the two have talked about Syria and Afghanistan.

According to the Sun-Times report, Kinzinger has flown border duty before, three times under former President Barack Obama, doing immigration and drug-smuggling aerial surveillance. Kinzinger has said he is in favor of building a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico.