AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Sen. Ted Cruz is traveling to the Texas-Mexico border for a firsthand look at a surge of unaccompanied children crossing illegally into the U.S.

Saturday’s visit to a Customs and Border Patrol facility in McAllen will be the tea party darling’s third trip to his state’s southern border since taking office last year. It’s the first trip for Cruz since the influx of young immigrants became a national issue.