Matt York / AP

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., listens to a question during a town hall in Sun Lakes, Ariz., Feb. 19, 2013.

The Associated Press reports — During a heated town hall gathering in the Phoenix suburb of Sun Lakes, Sen. John McCain said the border near Yuma is largely secure, but he said smugglers are using the border near Tucson to pump drugs into Phoenix. He said immigration reform should be contingent on better border security that must rely largely on technology able to detect border crossings.

"There are 11 million people living here illegally," he said. "We are not going to get enough buses to deport them."

Some audience members shouted out their disapproval.

One man yelled that only guns would discourage illegal immigration. Another man complained that illegal immigrants should never be able to become citizens or vote. A third man said illegal immigrants were illiterate invaders who wanted free government benefits.

McCain urged compassion. "We are a Judeo-Christian nation," he said. Read the full story.

Related:

White House, Rubio spar on immigration

Umit Bektas / Reuters

U.S. Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman greet Syrian refugees during their visit at Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay province on the Turkish-Syrian border April 10.

Umit Bektas / Pool via EPA

U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, meets Syrian refugee children during his visit at Yayladagi refugee camp in Hatay, on the Turkish-Syrian border in Turkey, April 10. Annan's visit was first announced last weekend in response to Turkish calls for international help in coping with the increasing number of refugees arriving from Syria. On April 9, two Syrian refugees were killed and 19 were injured, including two Turks working at the camp.

Visitors to the Syrian refugee camp in Turkey included envoy Kofi Annan and U.S. Senators John McCain and Joseph Lieberman. Turkey is struggling to cope with 25,000 Syrians who have already crossed the border seeking refuge from the ongoing violence. Today, the cease fire is supposed to begin, but France is already calling Assad's promise a 'blatant lie.'

• Funeral held for TV cameraman shot on Lebanon-Syria border
• More photos from Syria on PhotoBlog

Updated: McCain and Lieberman repeated their calls for arming the Syrian rebels.

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Photos by Brian Snyder / Reuters

Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is joined by U.S. Senator John McCain at a campaign stop in Manchester, N.H. on Jan. 4, 2012, one day after Romney won the Iowa caucus.

Slideshow: Mitt Romney's life in politics

Jonathan Ernst / Getty Images

From governor's son to presidential contender, a look at the life of Republican Mitt Romney.

Launch slideshow

The Associated Press reports that Mitt Romney accepted an endorsement from Arizona Sen. John McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, as he pushed for an overwhelming victory in next week's New Hampshire primary.

McCain, who is still hugely popular in the state, said his endorsement was intended to help Romney "get an overwhelming vote that will catapult this candidate to the White House."

McCain and Romney haven't always been political allies. McCain beat Romney in the 2008 New Hampshire primary, and there is a history of acrimony between the two. But Romney eventually endorsed McCain in 2008.

Cindy McCain, wife U.S. Senator John McCain, left, and Ann Romney, wife of Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, arrive for a joint appearance of their husbands in Manchester.

John Makely / msnbc.com

Sen John McCain autographs a magazine cover for a fan following his endorsement of Mitt Romney at Central High School in Manchester, Wednesday, Jan. 4.

John Makely / msnbc.com

Brian Murphy with daughter Brianna, 3, brave the cold temperatures in downtown Manchester to get the word out about a Romney rally at Central High School on Wednesday.

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