Episode 6 – Heidi (Mexico)
On January 30, 2020, the Utah Supreme Court enacted a rule that would allow undocumented immigrants to practice law in Utah. When Heidi started law school, the bar rules did not allow for that. She is one of the two Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) recipients who petitioned the court for this change, making Utah a part of 10 other states that allow undocumented immigrants to practice law.
Heidi is from Oaxaca, Mexico, and moved to the states in 1992 with her family. Although she would soon understand what it meant to be undocumented in the states, she did not let her undocumented status stop her from pursuing her education and eventually a law degree. DACA has had a tumultuous history, and the future of the program is still unpredictable, leaving many like Heidi to become overwhelmed by fear and anxiety of what may come. However, despite the uncertainty and obstacles, she has continued to pursue her dreams. Her courageous fight to push for a change in the Utah State Bar rules has paved a path and will have a lasting impact on undocumented immigrants who choose to pursue a legal career in Utah.
