Minority Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerPelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' 3 reasons why Biden is misreading the politics of court packing Cruz blocks amended resolution honoring Ginsburg over language about her dying wish MORE (D-N.Y.) will lead a group of roughly a dozen Senate Democrats on a trip Friday to the U.S.-Mexico border to inspect migrant detention facilities.

"This weekend, I am leading a visit to the border with a number of my Democratic colleagues to investigate, inspect and evaluate the latest conditions at these facilities," Schumer said from the Senate floor on Thursday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Conditions at migrant facilities along the border have jumped into the national spotlight after the Department of Homeland Security's inspector general released a report earlier this month that found "dangerous overcrowding" and "prolonged detention of children and adults" at facilities in the Rio Grande Valley.

"Faultless kids, many traveling alone, many very young, are subjected to inhumane conditions, without the proper health care, nutrition, hygiene or space. People have different views on immigration, we know that. But no one should want to see these kids treated so inhumanely. All they’re doing is fleeing for a better life," Schumer said on Thursday.

"We hope, desperately hope, that the conditions have improved over the past several weeks and we will certainly report to the American people and to the Senate on what we find," he added.

An aide added that at least a dozen Senate Democrats will attend Schumer's trip.

The Democratic trip comes after Vice President Pence led a congressional delegation to the U.S.-Mexico border.

In a White House pool report, Washington Post reporter Josh Dawsey described seeing more than 380 men behind fences with no pillows or mats to sleep on and not enough space for everyone to lie down. Dawsey said men told reporters they had not showered in weeks and did not always have access to toothbrushes and food.

Pence initially announced the trip as a bipartisan delegation of senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee. But none of the 10 Democrats on the panel went on the trip, with several indicating they had scheduling conflicts.