Melania Trump Visits Texas Facility For Detained Immigrant Kids

First lady Melania Trump made an unexpected visit to Texas Thursday to visit a facility where immigrant children who have crossed the southwestern are being housed, according to a statement from Mrs. Trump's office.

"Her goals are to thank law enforcement and social services providers for their hard work, lend support and hear more on how the administration can build upon the already existing efforts to reunite children with their families," the statement said.

Mrs. Trump visited a detention facility for immigrant children in McAllen, Texas. She thanked those working at the detention facility for the work they are doing for the detained children. According to CNN, Mrs. Trump visited the Upbring New Hope Children's Center, a facility that is overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services.

"We all know they are here without their families and I want to thank you for your hard work, your compassion and your kindness you're giving them in this difficult time," Mrs. Trump said during a roundtable at the facility. The first lady said she wanted to learn about the facility where children are housed on a long-term basis and asked what she could do to unite the children with their families as quickly as possible.

Mrs. Trump's visit comes the day after President Trump signed an executive order that would end the separation of families who cross the southwestern border. The idea for the visit was Mrs. Trump's and she planned the trip before the executive order was signed, according to CNN.

Under the administration's "zero-tolerance" policy for illegal immigration, immigrant children crossing the border with their parents were separated from them as the parents are referred for criminal prosecution. The order signed by Trump doesn't end the administration's "zero-tolerance" policy.

And as The New York Times noted, the order does nothing to address the issue of the 2,300 children already separated from their parents. The order could also face a legal challenge because families cannot be held in custody for more than 20 days, the Times reported.

As the Trump administration came under criticism for the policy, Mrs. Trump said in an earlier statement she "hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together for successful immigration reform.

"She believes we need to be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with heart," her statement said

Photo via White House