By ANNA GIARITELLI • 1/31/17 10:19 PM

Homeland Security Sec. John Kelly will visit department employees at the country's border security mission in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas on Wednesday, acting press secretary Gillian Christensen announced Tuesday evening.

Kelly will also meet with Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, while in the Lone Star State. The two are expected to discuss state and federal efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

Kelly will receive briefings from border officials on DHS' southwest border capabilities and operations.

The trip is the first for the recently sworn-in Cabinet member.

The Rio Grande Valley has consistently seen the highest number of attempted entries by unaccompanied minors in comparison with the other southwestern sectors. DHS documented more than 36,000 apprehensions of illegal alien minors within the Rio Grande Valley in fiscal year 2016, 54 percent higher than the previous year.

The next highest number was 6,300 minors in the Tucson region.

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