June 21 (UPI) — First lady Melania Trump made a surprise trip to Texas Thursday to visit border facilities amid the administration’s crisis over the separation of families.
Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s spokeswoman, told CNN Melania Trump wanted to “see what’s real.”
“She wanted to see as close to what she had been seeing on TV,” Grisham said. “She wants to see a realistic view of what’s happening.”
The White House said the first lady’s goal is to thank law enforcement and social services providers.
Melania Trump will take part in “briefings and tours at a nonprofit social services center for children who have entered the United States illegally and a customs and border patrol processing center,” a statement from the first lady’s office said, adding the first lady wanted to “hear more on how the administration can build upon the already existing efforts to reunite children with their families.”
The first lady arrived in McAllen, Texas, amid rain Thursday. Heavy storms have created flooding in the area in recent days.
The Trump administration has been under increasing pressure from the public, religious leaders and lawmakers in Congress to end the practice of separating children from parents. Wednesday, President Donald Trumpsigned an executive order to keep detained migrant families together.
Last week, Melania Trump said she “hates to see” children separated from their parents.
“She believes we need to be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with heart,” the statement read.
