Rep. Michael Capuano reflects on trip to United States-Mexico border

Rep. Michael Capuano is back in Massachusetts after his trip to the border of United States and Mexico, but says it's been hard to leave behind what he saw.

Capuano was one of 25 Democrats on a trip to visit the three federal immigration facilities in Texas.

"We were looking people in the eyes crying, desperately crying trying to reunite with their child," Capuano said. "I can't imagine people wouldn't be moved by that, and wouldn't find it offensive and indefensible."

The group hoped to get a look at how those families separated at the border would be reunited, and Capuano said it was a struggle for a phone call to be made.

"They have to pay for that phone call, and these are some of the poorest people in the hemisphere," Capuano said.

The United States Department of Homeland Security said 522 unaccompanied minors have been reunited with their families, while 2,053 others remain in custody.

In a statement, the department said there is a coordinated process for the reunions.

"The United States government knows the location of all children in its custody, and is working to reunite them with their families," the statement read.

>>RELATED: Trump: GOP should give up on immigration until after 2018 elections

Capuano said he didn't believe doing something so small could have such large consequences on a family.

“I never ever thought that an American policy would be a policy to separate a child and mother, a nursing child from their mother because of a misdemeanor offense," Capuano said. "I will give the president the benefit of the doubt for the moment, although he hasn't earned it on this issue the policy will be followed through on. But, until its complete, I don't think we can take our foot off the gas."

Cox Media Group