New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito is expected to make an announcement Monday highlighting the success of a city initiative that provides undocumented children in NYC with free legal representation and protection from deportation.

Since it began last September, the "Unaccompanied Minors Initiative" has given free legal aid to hundreds of undocumented children who fled Central America last summer and ended up in New York City.

"One year ago, we said we had an obligation to help these children who flee unspeakable violence and today I am proud to announce that we have. Too many children who escaped horrific conditions are facing unequal access to lawyers across the country," said Mark-Viverito in a statement Sunday evening, reports Capital New York.

According to the City Council Speaker Mark-Viverito, all of the minors who ended up in the Big Apple now have legal representation, while over 1,600 immigrants have been screened through the program. The Speaker's office also revealed that lawyers have taken on nearly 650 cases and won 14 asylum petitions in the past year. In addition, the $1.9 million initiative has successfully provided the minors with access to social services and free public education.

"New York City stepped and resolved the unaccompanied minors representation crisis here-now it's time for others to follow. There is no excuse for failing these vulnerable children," said the Puerto-Rican American official in a statement to the Observer. "Too many children who escaped horrific conditions are facing unequal access to lawyers across the country."

The council has allocated an extra $1.5 million for the program, which was paid for with city funding and private contributions, for the fiscal year that began July 1.

Although tax dollars were used to pay for attorneys, the Robin Hood Foundation and the New York Community Trust has also allocated $900,000, while Catholic Charities Community Service of the Archdiocese of New York, the Legal Aid Society and Make the Road worked to connect the childnren with lawyers and social services.

"It is a pleasure to one year later see some of the affected young people enrolled in school, reconnected with loved ones, and on their way to success," said NYC Councilman Carlos Menchaca. "I hope we can continue to recommit to ending the circumstances that would allow for children to end up in those dark days again."