After a long fight with immigration services, the Mexican mother of an Air Force veteran has finally reunited with her family in San Diego.
On Friday, Rocio Lopez crossed into the United States as a legal resident. She is now able to live with her daughter and husband -- something she hasn't done for 15 years.
NBC 7 first reported on the hard-fought citizenship battle when Lopez's daughter and Air Force veteran Gabriela Poteet filed a petition to bring her home.
But Lopez encountered many delays and problems with her application.
“I saw it as something very impossible because I always, when I had [Poteet] here, I did everything legally,” said Lopez. “We paid for her and it was difficult that because of a document, we couldn't be by her side."
Lopez lived in Mexico much of her daughter's life. Gabriela said it was difficult not having her mother by her side when she joined the Air Force, went through basic training or graduated.
“It was very, very difficult,” said Lopez. “But my daughter would tell me we'll reunite one day."
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Poteet’s father and mother have years to catch up on, and they were able to start Friday.
Poteet couldn't be there because she is studying abroad in South Korea. But her mother couldn’t wait to hear her daughter’s voice.
She called Poteet as soon as she reached the U.S. – both with tears in their voices.
Poteet plans to be back in the U.S. to reunite with her mother in January, after her program ends.
