NYC Unaccompanied Minors Initiative Turns One

Lawmakers and immigration advocates are celebrating the one-year anniversary of New York City's Unaccompanied Minors Initiative. The program provides free legal and social services to hundreds of undocumented kids currently seeking refuge in the city.

The program began a year ago following an influx of immigrant children from Latin American to the United States. New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito says 9 out of 10 undocumented minors who do not have legal representation are deported.

"[Immigrant children] are expected to advocate for themselves, understand our legal procedures, and navigate our laws and incredibly complex paperwork," Mark-Viverito said.

The Speaker says the city is morally obligated to provide children with representation to guide them through the intricacies of the law. Mark-Viverito says the $1.9 million initiative, which is funded by both public and private organizations, provides kids with a fair chance to legally stay in New York City.

The program has taken on 648 asylum cases, of which only 14 have been won. Adovcates says federal immigration laws need to be reformed before more progress can be made.