California lawmakers proposed on Thursday to give US$3 million to aid illegal migrant children in navigating the U.S. legal system.

The proposal is designed help the 3,900 Central American children who have crossed the California border illegally and are not accompanied by a parent or relative.

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The funds would go to qualified nonprofit organizations that provide legal advice and aid to unaccompanied minors, The LA Times reports.

Democratic Governor Jerry Brown said in a statement "Helping these young people navigate our legal system is the decent thing to do and it's consistent with the progressive spirit of California."

The bill was spurred on by a visit Assembly Speaker Tony Atkins and members of the Latino Caucus made to a temporary holding center in Ventura County to meet with some children being held there.

Atkins said he and the members of the Latino Caucus left feeling that the children could not navigate the issue themselves and needed official support, calling it a humanitarian crisis.

Atkins also noted that the money would come from savings in the Assembly's budget, Mohave Daily News reports.

Governor Brown also took a trip to Mexico City last month to speak about the issue, pledging that it would "not be ignored" and that action will be taken in the coming months and years.

Because Democrats control both houses of the Legislature, the bill will not require the approval of Republicans.

Republicans in the state Assembly declined to comment on the bill, but spokeswoman Amanda Fulkerson promised that Republicans will work to ensure the children's rights are protected.

Assemblyman Luis Alejo, Vice-Chairman of the Latino Caucus, took the opportunity to take a jab at Texas Governor Rick Perry's decision to deploy National Guard troops to the Texas border.

"We're not sending the National Guard to confront these children as other states have done," he said.

The bill will be among the last the Legislature will act on before it adjourns on Aug. 31.

Tagsimmigration, U.S. immigration policy, children, california