The federal government will give legal help to scores of kids that cross the United States border illegally.
It’s a step to quell a growing humanitarian problem. Federal agents have increasingly felt pressure to deal with a surge of unaccompanied children from Central America crossing the border illegally.
In the first eight months of the fiscal year, agents made nearly 50,000 child apprehensions. The Department of Justice now says it will partner with AmeriCorp to enroll 100 lawyers and paralegals who will provide legal services to the most vulnerable kids.
Part of the idea is to identify children who might have been victims of human trafficking and abuse.
Critics of the Obama Administration say lenient immigration policies have left the door open for women and children to cross the border with impunity.