Hundreds of people joined U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke, D-Texas to march on a site just off the bank of the Rio Grande that was chosen to hold a federal "tent city" that will house migrant children separated from their parents upon arrival in the United States. 

The Department of Health and Human Services is building the 450-bed tent city at the Tornillo port of entry to house overflow from the Trump administration's new "zero tolerance" policy, sources have told NBC News. Migrant children began arriving at the facility on Friday.

Protesters came from as far as Alexandria, Virginia, Sunday in support of O’Rourke and his efforts to pressure the administration to reunite migrant children with their families. They chanted “families, united” and “say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here!” Over 1,000 were in attendance, according to organizers. 

“It forces us to act and places the pressure on those in positions of public trust and power to do the right thing,” O’Rourke said.

O’Rourke led a one-mile march from the farmlands of Tornillo to the port of entry that abuts the Rio Grande, which separates the U.S. from Mexico. Protesters used signs to shield themselves from the sun and cool off from the 90-degree weather.

For an hour, faith leaders and immigrant advocates called on the United States government to reunite migrant children with their families. Customs and Border Protection officials watched the march from their facilities at the port of entry.

The advocates were asked to say a few words about the importance of speaking out against the Trump administration’s policy.

Melissa Lopez, executive director of the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services in El Paso, called the Trump administration’s policies an “assault” on immigrant communities nationwide. 

“They will continue to attack our immigrant brothers and sisters unless we continue to raise our voices and make sure the administration knows that we will not stand for them to continue to punish and criminalize immigrants,” she said.

O’Rourke, who is contesting Republican Sen. Ted Cruz for his Senate seat, was joined by several local public officials and U.S. Rep. Joe Kennedy, D-Mass.

“We recognize that universal truth, that humanity does not come with citizenship or a green card,” Kennedy said.

Cruz defended the administration's policy while speaking at the Texas Republicans Convention over the weekend, Dallas News reported. 

"There's no doubt that the images that we've seen of children, and children being separated from their parents, are heartbreaking. They were heartbreaking when Obama was president," he said. "I visited the Obama camps that he set up to detain little boys and little girls who crossed the border illegally. Illegal immigration produces human tragedies that are wrong."

The Trump administration began enforcing a "zero tolerance" policy in April, which separates children from their parents because the adults have been referred to the Department of Homeland Security for prosecution, NBC News reported. From April 19 to May 31, 1,995 children were separated from 1,940 adults — about 46 children per day. 

Until the shift, families were usually referred for civil deportation proceedings, which did not require separation, The Associated Press reported.  

On Saturday, children could be seen through the fence separating the U.S. and Mexico playing soccer in the encampment. They were taken back into large white tents after a rainstorm came into the area.

There are plans to house an estimated 360 children at the encampment in Tornillo and 4,000 may be kept there in the near future, according to U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Texas, who represents the area. 

Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan in a Sunday statement noted that members of Congress are set to tour some Health and Human Services facilities for migrant children this week. 

"It is our hope that as members tour the facilities they will see the facilities for what they are intended to provide: safe and healthy environments for children and teenagers to reside until such time as they can be released to an appropriate sponsor, while their immigration cases are adjudicated," he said. 

He also pointed to "flaws in our immigration system" as a reason for a rising need for such facilities, and noted, like Cruz, that the previous administration also set up temporary shelters for children. 

"These semi-permanent structures have ventilation and cooling to ensure appropriate temperature, and teenagers at Tornillo range in age from 13-17. No [Unaccompanied Alien Children] under the age of 13 are placed at semi-permanent facilities such as Tornillo," Hargan said. 

David Stout, an El Paso county commissioner, said he joined the march because the El Paso community would not accept the Trump administration’s decision to separate children from their parents.

“It’s ridiculous what’s going on in this country,” he said. “What they’re doing to these children is inhumane.

Dominga Lopez, a Tornillo resident, said she was shocked to see children were brought to her hometown and none of her neighbors knew. She called on President Trump to think about how he would feel if his son was taken from him. 

“I cannot believe (the First Lady) would not speak up and make him do something that is right,” she said. “This is very wrong. And I don’t care what they say. They have misquoted the Bible and are hurting the children.”

First Lady Melania Trump waded into the debate though on Sunday, issuing a statement through her spokeswoman to say she "hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together to achieve successful immigration reform."

She added that the U.S. needs to "be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with heart."

Critics have countered that there is nothing stopping President Trump from ending the zero tolerance policy without congressional action. 

Former first lady Laura Bush wrote in an op-ed in the Washington Post that the zero tolerance policy was "cruel," "immoral" and "breaks my heart." 

"Our government should not be in the business of warehousing children in converted box stores or making plans to place them in tent cities in the desert outside of El Paso," she wrote. "These images are eerily reminiscent of the Japanese American internment camps of World War II, now considered to have been one of the most shameful episodes in U.S. history."

As protests unfolded in Texas, others across the country began to voice their opposition as well. Members of Congress in New Jersey and New York attempted to access a detention center in New Jersey Sunday, NBC News reported. The politicians were held off from entering for about two hours, but shared "heartbreaking" stories afterwards about fathers they had met with. 

—Maria Chamberlain, Suzanne Ciechalski and Daniel Macht contributed to this story.

House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and other top Democratic members of Congress will be in San Diego on Monday to visit the detention center housing migrant children separated from their families or who arrived unaccompanied to the United States.

Pelosi will join San Diego Rep. Juan Vargas and other members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus to see first-hand the effects of the Trump Administration’s zero-tolerance policy enacted by Attorney General Jeff Sessions earlier this year.

One of the shelters for migrant children is located in a nondescript building in El Cajon. Department of Health and Human Services officials said most of the children in that facility are unaccompanied minors and only 10 percent were separated from their parents.

The trip comes as a debate rages on in Washington and across the country over the administration’s strict enforcement of the existing policy to prosecute those entering the country illegally on top of the usual immigration proceedings.

The policy has separated nearly 2,000 children from their parents in six weeks. President Donald Trump has falsely been putting the blame for children separation on Democrats.

“I hate the children being taken away,” Trump told reporters at an impromptu press conference on Friday. “The Democrats have to change their law — that’s their law.”

In fact, there is no law requiring families to be separated at the border. While there are laws against "improper entry" as well as a decree that limits the amount of time migrant children may be held in a detention facility, none of those laws require children to be taken away from their parents.

Pelosi said this policy was “an act of the administration.”

“They have been planning this for a while,” she told reporters on Thursday during her weekly press conference. She said if the president was serious about not taking children away, his administration can put a stop to it without the need for Congress to act.

“This could have been something taken up under suspension in a minute if there was a real sincere effort,” Pelosi said. “You don't even need to do it.  It's executive action by the Attorney General.  It can be changed just like that.  Just like that.”

Nine people are recovering after a minivan crashed outside Lake Compounce in Bristol Sunday night.

The crash happened at a gate near Enterprise Drive in Bristol and police said it appeared that the minivan was leaving the park when the driver lost control.

Other park-goers came upon the scene and tried to help.

“At first I grabbed the little kid, like a little boy, carried him, held him in my arms, and then put down on the ground then went to help with more people,” Andrew Dvorchak, of Wolcott, said during an interview over FaceTime. 

Police said, thankfully, none of the injuries were serious.

Police are looking for a 12-year-old Bloomfield boy who did not return home from school in Hartford Friday and has been reported missing.

Daquan Clark was last seen wearing a multi-colored shirt and jeans and carrying a backpack.

Police said he is 4-foot-7 and weighs 90 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call Bloomfield Police at 860-242-5501 or 911.

Part of duplex in Middletown is uninhabitable after a fire tore through it on Sunday afternoon.

First responders raced to the duplex on Saybrook Road around 3 p.m. and found flames shooting out.

"In the back, it was all lit up from the inside out," said Angel Dejesus of Middletown.

According to Chief Michael Howley of the South Fire District, the right side of the duplex, where the fire was found, appears to be a total loss. It is unclear if the other side of the duplex was damaged.

With temperatures in the 80's and a strong sun overhead, first responders had to deal with challenging conditions.

"I can just imagine what the firefighters are feeling, being inside with all the equipment and just trying to fight the fire," Tanetra Rodgers of Middletown said.

Firefighters called for mutual aid from around the area to help make sure crews did not become exhausted.

"It's a very hot day. We're trying to rotate people through, keep them hydrated and keep everybody safe," Chief Howley said.

All firefighters who fought the fire are reported to be okay. In order to keep from getting dehydrated, the fire chief says he tells his crews to start drinking enough water the day before an expected hot day.

Police in Clinton are attempting to identify four people who they say are involved in motor vehicle thefts in Clinton and in surrounding towns.

According to officers, the suspects engaged police in a pursuit that was ultimately called off.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact Clinton Police at (860) 669-0451 or you can email Officer Lombardo at llombardo@clintonct.org, Det. Sgt. Flynn at jflynn@clintonct.org or Det. Cpl. Pellegrini at bpellegrini@clintonct.org.

Theaters across the country are warning moviegoers seeing "Incredibles 2" about possible adverse health effects related the flashing lights used in the film.

Disney sent an advisory to theaters asking them notify patrons about scenes featuring strobe and flashing lights in the Pixar film.

The warning, which has been shared on social media, says: "'Incredibles 2' contains a sequence of flashing lights, which may affect customers who are susceptible to photosensitive epilepsy or other photosensitivities."

Millions flocked to the theater this weekend for the long-awaited sequel, which shattered box office records and became the best animated opening of all time.

However, some attendees reported on social media that the strobe effects from the villain’s weapon of choice not only impaired characters on-screen, but left audience members nauseous. There were some reports of people experiencing seizures.

"So, the villain’s weapon of choice in the movie is bright white lights that are at a rapidly flashing/strobing frequency, with the intent to disorient people. One of these scenes lasts over 90 seconds with continuous strobe light, other scenes last anywhere from 5-30 seconds,” blogger Veronica Lewis wrote in a Twitter post Friday.

She explained in a blog post that people with photosensitive epilepsy aren’t the only ones who could be affected by the visual stimuli associated with some of the movie's action scenes — those who suffer from migraines, vision impairments, seizure conditions, vertigo, autism, ADHD, and PTSD could also experience a reaction to the images.

On Saturday, Disney notified theaters showing "Incredibles 2" to post a warning for ticket holders about the lighting effects of the scenes in question.

The Epilepsy Foundation of America wants Disney to do more, and has called on the studio to "post a warning on all its digital properties, including relevant websites and social media channels, about what has been described as 'flashing' and 'strobe' lights in its 'Incredibles 2' movie. There should be a warning of the potential effects on people with visual sensitive epilepsy or migraine features."

As of 9 a.m. ET Monday morning, Disney Pixar and the "Incredibles 2" official Twitter and Facebook accounts did not have any posts issuing a warning about the movie.

Disney estimated Sunday that “Incredibles 2” earned $180 million in its debut weekend in the U.S. alone.

According to Disney, adults made up 31 percent of the audience. Families accounted for 57 percent and teens 11 percent.

"Incredibles 2" comes 14 years after "The Incredibles," which at the time boasted one of the biggest animated openings ever, and picks up right where the first film left off with the superhero family. Brad Bird returned to write and direct the sequel, which has been overwhelmingly well-received by both critics and audiences.

Two teenagers and an adult are facing charges after police say they stole a woman's purse in the commuter lot of Route 9 south at exit 30 in New Britain on Saturday night.

Police say the victim and witnesses identified a 16-year-old, a 17-year-old, and 21-year-old Adrien Gonzalez as the three men who took the purse off the woman's arm with force.

All three of the men were later detained nearby on Stanley Street by New Britain Police.

According to police, both the 16-year-old and the 17-year-old are facing robbery, larceny and breach of peace charges. The 16-year-old is also facing an additional charge of interfering with an officer. Both teenagers were held and transported to Juvenile Detention Center in Hartford until their court dates at New Britain Juvenile Court.

Officers say Gonzalez, of Bedford, Mass., is also facing robbery, larceny, breach of peace and interfering with an officer charges. He was held on $50,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court on Monday.

With temperatures expected to feel near 100 degrees across the state, many school districts are altering their schedules.

Some towns are also opening cooling centers.

East Hartford is opening cooling centers at the South End Senior Center, Raymond Library and the Public Safety Complex.

Ellington is opening cooling centers at the library at 93 Main St. and the senior center at 40 Maple St. 

South Windsor is opening cooling centers at the South Windsor Community Center on Nevers Road and the South Windsor Library on Sullivan Avenue.

Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said Danbury Public Schools will be on a half-day schedule. Henry Abbott Tech in Danbury is dismissing at 10:30 a.m.

Students at Ellington High School were already on a half-day schedule on Monday due to exams, but Superintendent Scott Nicol said they are monitoring the weather to make a decision about the other schools. He said he would inform parents and staff on Sunday so proper family arrangements can be made. According to officials, it has been five or six years since the last time Ellington Public Schools has had a half day due to excessive heat.

Enfield Public Schools has decided to change their regularly scheduled full school day to an early release day with lunch. Superintendent Christopher Drezek says Stowe Early Learning Center and Parochial Schools will follow the early dismissal schedule with lunch on Monday. Head Start will not Have lunch and afternoon preschool classes have been canceled. All after-school activities, parks and recreation and Enfield Adult Education Classes have also been canceled. Enfield Child Development Center and ERfC School Age centers will remain open.

Students at public schools in Hartford and New Britain will also be having an early dismissal.

For students and teachers in Hartford, Monday is their last day. It is also the last day for most students in New Britain. However, the last day of school for students at Chamberlain and Lincoln will be Tuesday and students at Smalley will finish Wednesday.

Windham Public Schools has decided to schedule early dismissals for some schools ahead of the heat since their buildings lack air conditioning. According to officials, Windham High will be dismissed at 12:30 p.m. and Windham Middle will be dismissed at 12:45 p.m. North Windham, Sweeney, Natchaug and Windham Center will be dismissed at 1:15 p.m. There will be no early dismissal at C. H. Barrows STEM Academy. There will be no AM or PM Pre-K at Windham Early Childhood Center, but full day Pre-K will continue as normal. Promotion ceremonies for Windham Center and North Windham will continue as scheduled.

You can check school closings online here.

Emergency crews responded to apartments at 15 Evergreen Ave. in Hartford after concrete fell from the third-floor porch Monday morning.

No one was injured and a building inspection will be done.

Editor’s note: Fire officials initially said apartments were evacuated, but later said no residents will be evacuated while repairs take place.

Since temperatures are expected to feel near 100 degrees across the state on Monday, several towns have opened cooling centers to help residents escape the heat.

Bloomfield

• Bloomfield Municipal Pool from 4:00 p.m.to 8:00 p.m.
• Alvin & Beatrice Wood Human Services Center, 330 Park Ave. from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
• Prosser Library, 1 Tunxis Ave. from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• McMahon Wintonbury Library, 1015 Blue Hills Ave. from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday

East Hartford

• South End Senior Center, 70 Canterbury St. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Raymond Library, 840 Main St. from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Public Safety Complex, 31 School Street (Police Lobby), 24 hour access

Ellington

• the library at 93 Main St.
• the senior center at 40 Maple St.

Hamden

• Government Center, 2750 Dixwell Ave. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Miller Library Complex, 2901 Dixwell Ave. from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Whitneyville Library, 125 Carleton St. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Community Branch Library, 91 Circular Ave. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Keefe Community Center, 11 Pine St. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Police Department, 2900 Dixwell Ave., 24 hour access
• Fire Station 2, 71 Circular Ave. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Fire Station 3, 441 Hartford Tpk. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Fire Station 4, 2372 Whitney Ave. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Fire Station 5, 2993 Whitney Ave. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Fire Station 9, 245 Johnson Rd. from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

South Windsor

• South Windsor Community Center on Nevers Rd. during regular hours
• South Windsor Library on Sullivan Ave. from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

To find a cooling center near you, click here.

A man who had been let go from his job at Golden Corral in Milford is accused of threatening to “shoot the place up” and has been arrested. 

Police said officers responded to the restaurant at 74 Turnpike Square just after 10 p.m. Saturday to investigate reports of threatening and arrested 21-year-old Melvin James, of New Haven. 

James, who started his first shift at the restaurant earlier in the day, had been terminated from his job at the restaurant and is accused of making the threats, police said. 

He was charged with first-degree threatening, second-degree breach of peace and he was held on $5,000 bond.

A man from Hamden is under arrest on Monday after investigators say he was in possession of thousands of images and movie files of suspected child pornography.

Detectives from Hamden and police in Milford say they began investigating 27-year-old Gino Jeanetti of Hamden in September of last year for child pornography.

In March of this year, Hamden Police executed a search and seizure warrant at Jeanetti's house and say they seized multiple storage media devices including computers. Investigators say they found 5,500 still images and movie files of suspected child pornography when they examined the items.

Officials say Jeanetti was arrested at his home on Monday after Meriden Superior Court approved a warrant for his arrest.

According to experts, Jeanetti is facing possession of child pornography charges. He was detained on a $35,000 bond and is scheduled to appear in court in Meriden on July 6.

An investigation is underway in New Haven after a man was found with severe injuries in the middle of the street early Monday morning.

New Haven Police responded to Grand Avenue near Blatchley Avenue in Fair Haven for a report of a person down around 3:40 a.m. Police say a passing motorist told officers he spotted the man, unconscious and bleeding from his ears.

First responders began treating the injured man as they rushed him to the hospital. Officials have identified him as 46-year-old Helmer Ivan Castillo-Espinoza, of New Haven. Experts say he is currently in critical condition.

Members of the police's Crash Reconstruction Team are now investigating the incident as a possible hit-and-run. Police say it does not appear Castillo-Espinoza was assaulted, as officers previously suspected.

The 2018 Travelers Championship week in Cromwell began at TPC River Highlands with remarks from Governor Dan Malloy during the opening ceremony on Monday morning.

"The anticipation is just, you can feel it in the community, the excitement is there. People almost look at us as the kick off of summer," said Nathan Grube, Travelers Championship Tournament Director.

Fans can expect a new experience on the course, including faster shuttles, new on-course venues and new grandstands surrounding the first tee. There are also plenty of comforts to help crowds beat the heat.

"In the Fan Zone we have free wifi, charging stations this year, cooling benches where you can sit down and there are air conditioning benches and family care station for baby changing," Grube said. "The ticket holders feel like VIPs because they are going to have their own venues to go into now."

Last year the Travelers Championship tournament raised more than $1.7 million for various charities, including the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp. The camp, located in Ashford, provides hospital-level care for children with life-threatening conditions, while also giving them a chance to experience the fun of a summer camp.

Three kids from the camp participated in the opening ceremony on Monday.

"The Travelers Championship benefiting camp means a lot to me because it helps other kids going through difficult times have just a great and a fun time at camp," said Carly Demartino, 13, of Granby.

This year, 17-year-old Tyler Backus hit the first drive of the week.

"I was very nervous. That was probably the most important shot I will ever take in my life," Backus said.

The player field at the 2018 Travelers Championship boasts some of the best golfers in the world.

"Five out of the top 10. With Brooks Koepka coming fresh off his win at the U.S. Open, Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy, Bubba Watson, Jordan Spieth there are so many great names here in golf that something special is going to happen," said Andy Bessette, Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer of Travelers.

In 2017 Jordan Spieth won the Travelers Championship in dramatic fashion with a blast from the bunker on the first hole playoff hole. Now tournament officials hope this year will be just as successful.

"Having the best players in the world gives you that platform to raise more money for charity," Grube said.

The president and CEO of Foxwoods Resort Casino passed away unexpectedly, according to the casino.

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and Foxwoods Resort Casino made the announcement Monday about the passing of president and CEO Felix Rappaport.

“On behalf of the entire Tribal Council, Foxwoods management team and staff, we extend our deepest sympathies to Felix’s family,” MPTN Chairman, Rodney Butler said in a statement. “With his passing, we have suffered a major loss. Felix’s passion for modernizing and growing Foxwoods, as well as his friendship, mentorship and humor touched everyone who worked with him. We are confident that Felix’s legacy will live on as we continue to push forward on the vision he set.”

Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Police said Rappaport died in a suite at Foxwoods. The medical examiner has not released the cause of death.

Before joining Foxwoods, Rappaport worked for Station Casinos, Hershey Entertainment and Resort Company, Mirage and Treasure Island. He also previously served as President/COO of Mirage, NYNY, Luxor and Excalibur, while working for MGM Resorts International.

A 24-year-old man is recovering after being shot in the back on Fountain Street in New Haven Sunday.

Police said officers responded to a report of gunfire on Fountain Street and Lakeview Terrace at 10:35 p.m. A passing driver flagged them down and said he was driving a man with a gunshot wound to the hospital. Police called for an ambulance.

The victim, identified as New Haven resident Christopher Stanberry, was shot multiple times in the back. He was listed as stable at the hospital.

The investigation is ongoing. More information was not immediately available.