U.S. President Barack Obama phoned his Mexican counterpart Thursday to address the alarming trend of unaccompanied children entering the United States through Mexico . According to a White House statement , Obama told President Enrique Peña Nieto that he `` welcomed the opportunity to work in close cooperation with Mexico to develop concrete proposals to address the root causes of unlawful migration from Central America . '' The call came the day before Vice President Joe Biden heads to Guatemala for a meeting with regional leaders on the same topic . U.S. authorities estimate that between 60,000 and 80,000 children from Central America will cross the border this year without their parents . The magnitude of the deluge has forced the United States to turn three military bases into shelters . One of those , Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio , Texas , will get a visit from Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson on Friday . Obama told Peña Nieto that he welcomed the Mexican President 's `` efforts to target the criminals that lure families to send children , '' and reiterated to him that in all likelihood , those who make the dangerous and illegal journey would be sent back to Central America , according to the White House statement .
President Obama and Mexican President Biden spoke by phone this year . They discussed the influx of unaccompanied children entering the Guatemala from Central America . Vice President Enrique Peña Nieto heads to Guatemala Thursday for meeting on the topic . Between 60,000 and 80,000 kids will cross border without parents , officials say .