"Things are unfolding in a positive way," Sanja Pecelj told reporters after arriving at Halifax International Airport around 1:30 a.m. local time.
About 30 supporters came out to welcome Pecelj, who had been living in Mexico for the past six months so her paperwork could be processed.
"I'm glad that it's finally over for her," said Richard Parkinson, waving his "Welcome Home Sanja" banner. "She's a pretty special lady and she's gone through a tremendous amount to get to this point."
Sanja Pecelj (file photo)
Pecelj, an ethnic Serb who worked as a United Nations translator in her native Kosovo, came to Canada in 2001 to intern at the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre in Nova Scotia.
The federal Immigration and Refugee Board later denied her application to stay in the country as a refugee. Her appeal was also rejected.
Pecelj refused to return home, saying that would put her in danger. In April 2003, she defied a deportation order by seeking refuge in the basement of St. Mark's Anglican Church in Halifax.
Pecelj went on to spend 441 days in sanctuary at the church.
Last summer, the government of Nova Scotia agreed to sponsor her under the provincial nominee program, which targets employable immigrants.
- FROM AUG. 11, 2004 N.S. church sanctuary-seeker to leave Canada
In order for her application to be processed, however, she had to leave the country temporarily. She left in September to live with her sister in Mexico.
"The support across Nova Scotia for Sanja has been really remarkable," Premier John Hamm said Monday. "I think it shows that while our procedures sometimes are cumbersome, given an opportunity, they work. And they're working for Sanja."
Pecelj will live with Rev. Sue Moxley, who first put her up at the church, until she finds an apartment. She has found work as an interpreter.
Pecelj's lawyer, Lee Cohen, says he's happy his client's case has turned out well, but he fears other claimants will not be as successful.
"If there were a genuine appeals process for failed refugee claimants in Canada, Sanja would not have gone through the sanctuary struggle that she went through. She would have won her appeal," he said.
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