More than 52,000 unaccompanied children have crossed the border illegally since October, a situation lawmakers are deeming a national crisis. On Thursday, a congressional committee will meet at the spot where many have crossed into the country to try and find a solution to the growing problem.

Members of Congress will gather for a field hearing in McAllen. It’s estimated two-thirds of the children, many from Central America, have crossed from Mexico into the Rio Grande Valley. The Homeland Security Committee will hold a field hearing today to examine the impacts of, and response to, the growing trend of unaccompanied children crossing the border.

Austin Congressman Michael McCaul is the chair of the committee. He is especially concerned because the crisis has left state and local officials to fill a void left by the federal government. It’s a criticism also expressed by Gov. Rick Perry.

“If the President of the United States is really serious about securing that border, we can show him how to do that. But I have not even had a phone call from this president. You have not … he’s coming next week. He’s coming for a fundraiser. If he doesn’t go to the border, I think it’s a real reflection of his lack of concern of what’s really going on there,” Perry said.

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