Texas Senator Ted Cruz faced fierce criticism Thursday after he went to a resort in Mexico as millions of people in his state suffered blackouts and water cuts due to a snowstorm.

While his political opponents called for his resignation, Cruz justified the one-night trip. 

"With classes canceled for this week, our two daughters asked to take a trip with friends," Cruz said in a statement. "Wanting to be a good dad, I traveled with them last night and came back this afternoon."

Pictures circulated on social media showed Cruz during his travel Wednesday, while the southern regions of the United States, which rarely experience severe winter weather, were mired in very cold temperatures.

Across Texas, service companies are making strenuous efforts to restore electricity, while seven million people in the state are required to boil water before consuming it. 

A program to ration electricity was announced, as wind power plants and turbines are frozen.

"My team and I are in constant contact with state and local officials to find out what happened in Texas. We want the electricity and water to return and our homes to be warm," he added.

Cruz was filmed at Cancun airport on Thursday prior to the return flight to the United States.

In a radio interview earlier this week, Cruz urged people to "stay home" as the cold winter weather approaches.

White House spokeswoman Jane Saki commented briefly on the incident, in response to reporters' questions.

"I do not have any new information about Ted Cruz's exact whereabouts," she said, adding, "We focus on working ... and addressing the winter storm and the existing crisis."

The Texas Democratic Party has called for Cruz to resign over his trip.

Cruz, an ally of former President Donald Trump, is considered a potential Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential election.