President Barack Obama has arrived in Dallas, where he's meeting with local and religious leaders about the immigration crisis on the southern border.
Obama was greeted upon landing by Gov. Rick Perry, who will attend the meeting. In Washington, Republicans have hardened their opposition to the White House request for $3.7 billion in emergency funds to handle the expense of processing thousands of young Central American immigrants who have entered the country.
Obama is resisting calls to visit the U.S.-Mexico border. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis caused by the flow of Central American minors is increasingly becoming a political liability for the president and a test of his administration's competence.
Obama's trip comes one day after he asked Congress for $3.7 billion in emergency spending to get more resources to the border.
The roundtable discussion in Dallas is seen by the White House as a way to address the immigration issue while avoiding awkward optics at the border. Tens of thousands of unaccompanied children have arrived there in recent months, many fleeing violence in Central America, but also drawn by rumors that they can stay in the U.S. White House officials say most are unlikely to qualify for humanitarian relief and will be sent back to their home countries.
Perry met Obama at the foot of the stairs to Air Force One, after waiting a few minutes and shaking hands with Air Force personnel.