L.A City Council today voted to examine the plight of homeless immigrant children.

Experts say undocumented children who are homeless are especially vulnerable to sex trafficking and other forms of exploitation.

KPFK's Rita Eid has the story.

It's hard to know exactly how many undocumented children there are on the streets of Los Angeles. Estimates vary, but according to the data, the number is on the rise and is at least several dozen, and could be over a hundred.

Council member Mitch O'Farrell introduced the motion asking the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to prepare a report on how best to help the undocumented children. And the council voted 13-0 in support of his request.

According to his motion, there have been several reports about more and more immigrant children falling into homelessness once in the United States.

The nonprofit organization El Rescate wrote a letter in support of the action last week. That letter says that children awaiting asylum in the U.S. often face awful conditions. And local governments can step up and do more to help.

Several homeless advocates urged the L.A. city council Tuesday to do more to help the homeless.

Homeless activist Tom Rawl-tur:

[Tom Ralter]

Activist Brook Harrington told the council that despite more funding from taxpayers, the city isn't making homelessness enough of a priority.

[Brook Harrington]

O'Farrell's motion calls for local housing agencies... to reach out specifically to unaccompanied minors who have been held in federal custody through the Office of Refugee Resettlement... and to look for ways to provide them services.

For KPFK, Pacifica Radio, in Los Angeles, I'm Rita Eid.

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