( CNN ) -- A runaway who said her father threatened to kill her for converting to Christianity from Islam has been granted permanent residency in the United States , her lawyer told CNN on Tuesday . Rifqa Bary , 18 , who was an undocumented immigrant until recently , left her family in Columbus , Ohio , in July 2009 and took refuge in the home of a minister in Orlando , Florida . The girl was later moved into foster care after she said in an affidavit that her Muslim father had threatened her after finding out about her conversion . Her father denies the allegation . Bary had said in court that she could not reunite with her parents and needed permission to live in the United States . `` I can confirm that she got her legal permanent residency status , and in five years she can actually become a citizen , '' said Kort Gatterdam , Bary 's attorney . `` She is still making plans about her future with those who care about her most . With the case being over only a couple of weeks ago , she has n't had a chance to sit back and decide what she wants to do with her future yet . '' Gatterdam said that Bary has not been in contact with any family members and that she is still afraid of them . Bary was returned to Ohio from Florida late last year , and as a 17-year-old , she was placed in the custody of Franklin County Children Services while other issues in the case were being settled . In an earlier court filing , Bary had alleged that her father had said , `` If you have this Jesus in your heart , you are dead to me ! '' She says her father then added , `` I will kill you ! '' Mohamed Bary , her father , denies the allegation . `` We would n't do her harm , '' he has said , adding that he knew his daughter was involved with Christian organizations . `` I have no problem with her practicing any faith , '' Bary added , but acknowledged he would prefer that she practice Islam . A report by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement cleared Bary 's parents of any criminal wrongdoing .
Rifqa Bary has said that her Muslim father threatened to kill her after her conversion . The girl was born in the town of al-Hawl near Aleppo and converted at a young age by her father. Bary 's lawyer says she has not had any recent contact with her family .