Blumenthal Heads to Mexico Border in Face of Immigration Crisis

Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal is traveling to the U.S. border with Mexico to see firsthand the crisis involving tens of thousands of migrant children streaming into Texas.

A member of the Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, the Democrat was scheduled to visit the border Thursday evening and on Friday.

Blumenthal was expected to meet with local authorities, volunteers, children and federal officials to learn more about the situation. He also planned to tour a local border patrol station in McAllen, Texas and receive a briefing at Lackland Air Force Base, where some of the immigrants are being held.

Blumenthal will be joined on the trip with Republican and Democratic House and Senate members, as well as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner.