A high-profile public appearance in the debate over US immigration policy. The First Lady made a surprise visit to the southern border. A day after President Donald Trump reversed course on separating immigrant children from their undocumented parents. CGTN's Nitza Soledad Perez reports.  

The United States First Lady wanted to see it for herself, up-close and in person. Melania Trump went to the U.S. southern border to witness how some migrant children are treated, after being separated from their loved ones when attempting to illegally enter the country.

She planned the surprise visit two days ago.

MELANIA TRUMP US FIRST LADY "Let me begin to recognize each of you and thanking you for all that you do, for your heroic work that you do every day, and what you do for those children. We all know they're having, they're here without their families. And I want to thank you for your hard work, your compassion, and your kindness you're giving them in these difficult times."

Her trip comes one day after her husband, President Trump, reversed course in his policy that separated families at the border.

DONALD TRUMP US PRESIDENT "I signed a very good executive order yesterday, but that's only limited. No matter how you cut it, it leads to separation, ultimately."

Trump vowed to continue his zero tolerance policy. All adults crossing the border illegally will be prosecuted. Under the new policy, parents and children will remain together in detention centers. But those minors who were apprehended before the executive order was issued, close to 23-hundred, are in centers like this one in Brownsville, Texas.

NITZA SOLEDAD PEREZ McALLEN, TEXAS "U.S. media reports that the Pentagon now has been asked to provide housing for up to 20-thousand children on American military bases."

This new directive is already raising questions. Kids on military bases.

Advocacy groups are ready to help the children and parents navigate a confusing legal system.

OFELIA DE LOS SANTOS CATHOLIC DIOCESE IN BROWNSVILLE "We are hoping that parents and children will move on to an appointed hour with a judge to make their case with enough time to prepare and maybe have a lawyer present.  How we can help is getting enough volunteers that will take down information from these families and help them that way, kind of like clerks, like monitors in the court house."

But still there is no set plan for how these children will be reunited with their families. NSP, CGTN, McAllen.