A Brentwood-based attorney is calling Vice President Kamala Harris' trip to the border Friday long overdue.
Bill Ferro, of Liga de Justicia, says many of his clients are concerned about the tide of migration over the border.
"I think there's a lot of people here that I represent so I speak to that, have got a lot of families that are getting caught up at the border and worrying about immigration, and I think that it really is time and I think we need to know what's going on there."
Harris is set to make her first visit to the U.S.-Mexico border since taking office. The visit comes after criticism from members of both parties over her failing to go sooner since she was tasked by the president to deal with the increase in migration.
"If you're in charge of the crisis at the border, one is that you have to be willing to go there and in this case heading to the epicenter in the Rio Grande Valley would be most important, says Rep. Lee Zeldin. "The takeaway after you see conditions and you talk to people who are on the ground is that you're making changes."
Some Long Island school officials will also be watching closely. That's because tens of thousands of migrant children have crossed the border in recent months and they're anticipating a possible influx of those children.
Education veteran Dr. William Johnson says the vice president's trip can help New York prepare for the next wave of migrant kids.
"What I'm hoping is that she and those in leadership positions will begin to put in place at the federal level a series of steps that need to be taken to identify these kids," says Johnson. "We've got to know in advance that they're coming so we can put together plans, educational plans, make sure they have services that they need."
Harris' border visit comes just days before former President Donald Trump is set to travel to the border.