The U.S. State Department and U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services are promoting a program to give abandoned, abused or neglected undocumented children the opportunity to apply for a special visa.

Attorney Dennis Bradley, who handles immigration cases, said applicants must begin the process by going through their local probate court.

He said children must demonstrate that being reunified with one or both of their parents — or going back to their home country — would only make things worse.

"It's important for folks who are out there who are listening, or curious as to what they can do for their children…family members…members of the community…that they let them know that there is relief,” said Bradley. “There are things out there that would enable them to stay here in this country and not live in the shadows of being undocumented or deemed ‘illegal.’”

He said most undocumented residents who have just arrived in the U.S. are not aware of the program, which makes the public information campaign vital.