President To Visit Dallas, Discuss Border Crisis
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - President Obama is headed to Dallas and Austin this week, a trip that began as a fundraising effort for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, but will now include meetings to discuss the crisis at the Texas border.
The President will fly into DFW, and then move to Dallas Love Field where he will meet one-on-one with Governor Perry. The two will then meet with North Texas leaders on immigration concerns.
Two thousand children are headed to North Texas by the end of the month. They're here illegally after being detained at the border.
More than 50,000 children have arrived in the U.S. since October, in many cases fleeing violence in Central America but also drawn by rumors that they can stay in the U.S.
On Tuesday, the White House asked Congress for $3.7 billion to cope with the tide of immigrant minors, which is putting a strain on resources on Texas.
After turning down an invitation for a "handshake on the tarmac" with the President and calling for a substantial meeting on the crisis, Perry agreed to meet with Obama in North Texas.
"Governor Perry is pleased that President Obama has accepted his invitation to discuss the humanitarian and national security crisis along our southern border, and he looks forward to meeting with the President tomorrow," said Travis Considine, in a statement on behalf of Governor Perry.
Mayor Mike Rawlings is one of several local elected leaders and faith leaders who will meet with the President at Dallas Love Field. Mayor Rawlings says, he is looking to know what is needed by the federal government for Dallas to host the children caught in the border crisis.
"This is something that is a tough issue. But it is not tough as these are human beings. These are children. It's our obligation to make sure we put them in a safe environment," Mayor Rawlings said.
After the meeting, President Obama will attend a private dinner at the North Dallas home of a prominent democratic fundraiser. The tickets for the event, are said to start at $10,000 per person and go up to $32,400 per couple.
The fundraiser will be the seventh Obama has held this year for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, ahead of the midterm elections in November.
After Dallas, the President will travel to Austin for a fundraising event and speech.
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