The City Council announced Wednesday it will make millions of dollars available to help young immigrants qualify for a federal program that gives them a chance to work legally.

Nearly 80,000 immigrants in the city who were brought to the U.S as children and don’t have legal status are eligible for deferred action. The program, announced a year ago by President Obama, allows them to avoid deportation and obtain work permits. So far, more than 20,000 immigrants in New York State have been approved, but the Council says there are still 16,000 immigrants in the city who can’t apply because they don’t satisfy one of the program’s criteria. They’re not currently in school or enrolled in adult education programs. The Council will invest $18 million dollars over two years to make more slots in those programs available, and to provide legal services.