COLUMBUS, N.M. -- Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano visited the Columbus, N.M. port of entry Wednesday, though she didn’t stay long.

Napolitano flew in, took a quick look at the border and answered a few questions. Within minutes, she was gone.

Napolitano said the border is a big deal in Washington.

“We're looking at a number of places along the border. First of all we want to make sure the border is safe and secure,” she said.

She said safety can be ensured with more forces and equipment to help keep drugs, guns, and violence from crossing to and from Mexico.

“That's why this port is slated for some major improvements. They got stimulus money in the bill,” Napolitano said.

Residents of Luna County said they are glad the secretary herself is taking the tour.

“I’m glad it’s someone who is familiar with the border between the United States and Mexico,” said Fred Williams, a Luna County Commissioner.

He said perhaps someday the border wall that has been built between the countries will not feel so foreign.

“People and families have been going back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico. It's disturbing to see a barrier built up to what has been a free exchange,” Williams said.

Another commissioner said there needs to be more education about the border because he hears students are taking guns to Mexico. Javier Diaz said he heard people ask 17-year-old students why they had so much money and the reply was that they buy guns and take them south.

In all, Napolitano said the New Mexico borders are the safest, but the mayor of Deming said without help and funding it's a matter of time before the violence crawls north.

“I don't know that the rest of the country realizes that we become soft area. All it takes is for somebody to come across even into Columbus all of a sudden you have a hostages at an elementary school,” said Mayor Andres Silva.

While Napolitano said New Mexico is the safest of all the borders at this time, she said personnel and equipment will be needed to maintain that.