SALT LAKE CITY — A DACA recipient living in Utah who was stuck in Mexico for six months is finally home.
Maleny Heiner was greeted by a crowd of cheers and hugs when she landed in Salt Lake City Saturday night.
“Once I got my stamp, I walked out and I saw everyone there and I just couldn’t help but cry,” she said.
“Its like our house feels alive. Home again. There’s love, happiness,” said her husband, Taylor. “It was just sad before.”
Since the age of two, Maleny Heiner has called the United States her home. She grew up in California, attended BYU, met her husband while serving on a mission with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and chased her dreams of becoming a social worker.
She had one last step to becoming a U.S. citizen this summer, but a paperwork error kept her in Zacatecas, Mexico .
At one point, she was told it could two-and-a-half years for her application to even be considered again.
“It just doesn’t feel like it did happen and I’m just back to normal,” said Heiner.