RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Even after a July 1 law change that helps undocumented children obtain permanent residency, the path to U.S. citizenship remains difficult for some. 8News spoke with a 16-year-old girl who immigrated from Honduras to the U.S. by herself at 9 years old after her mom abandone d her while crossing the U.S. border. Now, she has a 3-month-old baby. "I can’t work," she said. "I want to help, but I can't." Because she's not a citizen and without the paperwork, she can't work or schedule doctor's appointments. Her guardian is a single mother to five other kids. "Like if we can barely afford to live, how are we going to afford the lawyer to get her that way?" her guardian said. Naureen Hyder is the founding attorney of Hyder Immigration Law. She said pro bono or free services for immigrants exist, but waitlists are so long it could take years to get in the door. There are even more risks now when starting the citizenship process. "Now in this new administration, even people who are trying to do it the right way are facing hurdles of the potential risk of getting themselves into the deportation pipeline," Hyder said. "So even by submitting a petition to immigration, you are putting yourself at risk because you're letting them know 'I'm here.'" Hyder said there’s no one direct pathway to becoming a U.S. citizen. Each fact about someone can affect their eligibility. "It's like saying that the United States of America has weather," Hyder said. "We have so many different types of weathers across the country. Citizenship is the same thing." Because of this and changes in policy and administrations, Hyder said it can be a heavy financial burden on any family. "I want to see her do better for herself," the guardian said. "I want to see her be able to work and live like the rest of us can live. So, yeah, but that's definitely a struggle. Especially now that she has a baby." Hyder recommended immigrants seek a consultation with a reputable immigration attorney. She said some attorneys will do a free consultation to help someone evaluate their options. Hyder also said talking to community members who have been through the process is helpful. Hyder said immigrants under 21 years old can apply for what's known as Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. Before a July 1 law change, that status was only available to those up to 18 years old, noting that it could be a potential path for the 16-year-old. ...read more read less