My name is Karen Evelyn McLellan and I am 42 year old mother of 6 children.

I have
resided in the United States since the age of 2 months 19 days.
I was currently arrested and deported in the operation cross check which occurred
from 3/1-3/5 2015.
In 1971 at the age of 17 my mother ran away from home and went to Vancouver,
British Columbia where she got into drugs and partying, like a lot of teenagers did
back in those hippie days. She ended up pregnant and married my father, while
both were seriously intoxicated on heroin and several other drugs. They have both
signed sworn affidavits to this which of both were submitted to United States
Immigration. My mother has since passed away and is unable to help me fight this
any further.
At the age of 2 months 19 days old my mother realized this was not a life or
situation for me and returned to the United States and cleaned herself up for the
most part. While she quit drugs she continued to drink.
Eventually my mother divorced my father to remarry in Ketchikan, Alaska. In 1981
we moved to Anchorage, Alaska where my mother gained office employment. She
began with office parties and after work drinks often staying out late and coming
home drunk.
Around the age of 11 my mother began to physically abuse me. I often tolerated the
beatings and made sure that I was asleep when she got home or at least pretending
to be, so that I would not be the brunt of her drunken rages, at which time she
would direct the rages to my step father. Eventually he could not and would not
tolerate it anymore and he left her and they got divorced.
In 1983 or 1984 my mother again remarried to a much younger man, and for a
short while the abuse mellowed way out. However upon me turning age 13 my step
father began his interst in me and the sexual abuse began. As well as the physical
abuse picking back up. I began to drink to hide my feelings and party with a much
older crowd.
After some time of this, I would say 6-8 months I finally disclosed to a school
counselor what was going on in my home and spent the next 2 years in and out
of foster homes.
When I was 15 I met a military man who was 19 and fell in love with the idea of a
way out of the system and on my own. Through a pregnancy we bribed my mother
to sign the papers for us to marry, under the condition I would terminate the
pregnancy, her ultimatum being if I did not terminate she would press statutory
rap[e charges against him/. We ended up getting married and shortly after my first
son was conceived and born on 12/2/1989.

In January 1990 my husband was discharged from the military and we were
returned to Le Roy, NY, his hometown. After about 2-3 weeks there the abuse began
with him and I left him a few times, returned, left as the cycle always was for me in
the abusiveness. We conceived our second child who was born 12/10/1991.
When he was 6 months old I made the decision to end the marriage and separate
from my husband as it was just not the way to live anymore. That winter, struggling
to be a single parent of 2 children, working full time and going to cosmetology
school full time I was trying to stay off the welfare system but did have to get some
help. It eventually overtook me and I signed custody of my 2 boys over to their
father as I felt he had his entire family to assist him (they refused to help me in any
way) and it was best for my kids.
In 1996 our divorce was finalized and I could move on. I had given birth to another
child whom I had met his father during one of my lowest points of drinking. While I
maintained a steady job I continued to drink to hide my pain. At this point I had still
managed to stay out of trouble. The relationship with my 3 rd sons father turned
abusive shortly into my pregnancy and we split up within a month of my son being
born 5/17/1996
In 1996 I met who would become my 2nd husband and all was well. We worked
rented an apartment together and again I found myself pregnant. Things were okay
though. The relationship while a little rocky sometimes was not abusive at this point
and things were going well. On 6/21/1997 my 4 th child was born. We struggled a
little but managed with 2 kids. In November of that year the abuse began upon
returning from a trip to Georgia to see his family. He began to drink and abuse me,
resulting in 2 hospitalizations and his arrest. He was ordered to outpatient rehab
and anger management classes and the abuse settled. On 8/8/1998 we married and
our 2nd child together was born on 9/9/1998. This would be the year I have my first
run in with the law. On 9/27/1998 I received my first DWI ever and boy was I scared.
It resulted in probation, alcohol rehab classes and counseling. During this I stopped
my drinking and complied with the requests of probation. At this point I was
diagnosed with bi-polar disorder and the hunt was on for a proper medication. In the
mean time I had a friend who due to my naivety and believing I could get into
trouble had asked me to drive her to cash some checks. She informed me they were
stolen and she had filled them out. She was not asking me in any way to cash or
sign would I please just drive her to the store she would put gas in my vehicle and
give me some money. Not thinking I could get into trouble for this and if she got
caught it was on her I agreed. Long story short she got caught they knew I had
driven her and I was charged as well. I was charged and convicted of attempted
possession of a forged instrument and sentenced to 1 1/3-3 years in state prison, ha
while she got 3 years probation. I went to a shock incarceration facility in Brocton,
NY. I completed my program in 6 months 3 weeks with no problems and began my
first run in with immigration.

The reason this would be my first run in with immigration was not only my legal
issues but was a result of the law changes in 1996 with absolutely NO grandfather
clauses placed into them for any immigrants who were here previously. Before these
law changes I was considered a citizen due to my mother being born here. When
they changed these laws it indicated that if the U.S. parent was married in order for
the child to claim citizenship through the parent it had to be proven the parent
resided in the U.S. for 5 years after they (the parent) turned the age of 14, since my
mother gave birth shortly before she turned 19 this threw that out the window. Best
part is if the parents were not married at birth proof only had to be given for a
period of 1 year after the age of 14. (Punishment for being married to said child).
My attorney for this found a domestic violence statute I qualified for and applied for
my citizenship through that which was granted. Upon the judge granting me this,
his exact words were you go home and divorce this horrible man and ironically my
husband was sitting right there in the courtroom. Upon my release from immigration
custody on 12/14/2ooo I immediately went home, contacted legal aid and was
granted my divorce in July of 2001 on the grounds of cruel and inhumane treatment.
I successfully completed parole and continued with life picking up pieces getting a
job and moving on. In 2002 I began a relationship which was leading to what I
hoped was going to be finally something non abusive and stable. While I say my
relationship this time was never abusive, as any other one was it had ups and
downs. On 4/2/2003 my last and 6th child was born. The relationship was well we
both worked staying off a system as much as could be and living the life, all the
while planning a marriage, which due to my past I was a little leery of still. He
worked hard to gain my trust in that aspect. On 1/1/2004 I received my 2 nd dwi
taking someone home after we had a party at my house. While I accept full
responsibility for my actions I honestly believed I had slept long enough for the
alcohol to leave my system. Because I had a previous felony conviction and I blew
exactly .08 (which if it was .075-.079 they round which if I fought it would not be a
dwi and I would have won that) I decided to not fight and took a plea with a 3 year
probation sentence. At the request of my daughter I cannot give details but all I can
say is that in September 2005 the relationship ended due to abusive nature and it
would be forever seems till I would find a healthy nurturing relationship. I began to
focus on my family and my future, I ended up leaving my job due to my inability to
focus on work situations and I enrolled in online classes majoring in accounting. I
have always loved accounting, taxes and numbers. In June of 2007 I successfully
completed probation and was almost done with school looking forward to my
degree. I had stayed clean and sober with only one incident of relapse which I
quickly gained control of and picked back up to move forward. In November of that
year there was no one incident that triggered me but I began to drink again and
decided to get behind the wheel of a car, resulting in my 3 rd dwi. I was involved in
accident with this one, luckily with a HUGE vehicle and there were no injuries which
I thank god everyday for. I immediately plead guilty as I knew I had done wrong and
wanted to accept responsibility for my actions. While awaiting sentencing I made a

friend that lived around the corner from me our children were good friends, he was
a pill head opiate junkie, which was not my cup of tea as I liked to drink but our
kids hung out and I quite often ended up with his kids for days which didnt bother
me as I had 4 of my own what was few more to look after. One evening on my way
to the corner store to buy more beer of course, I walked past his house while he was
in detox and the doors were open and his a/c was running. In a drunken state I
decided that I could use that a/c much more than he as he was in detox and I took
it.
The next day the police were at my door inquiring about said a/c which I
immediately turned over and admitted what I had done, in a sober state thus
beginning my 2nd prison sentence. For the dwi and the attempted burglary I was
sentenced to 1 -4 years in prison. (I also note that as of today the guy I stole the
a/c from is currently on Genesee counties most wanted list not that it justifies my
actions in any way) while in prison I began my fight with immigration once again,
but I also began my REAL first honest look at my drinking problem. I entered into a
dwi program designed for women to address the underlying issues of hwy they
drink. I entered this program with a complete honest mind wanting to truly not drink
anymore. I completed it successfully and on 2/10/11 I was released from prison on
parole. While incarcerated I had lost my 3 youngest children into foster care and in
3/2011 my rights were terminated for all 3. I fought like a mother bear to keep them
alongside the 2 oldest. Eventually my 2nd oldest dropped her fight and she and the
youngest were released for adoption, but in 2012 the appellate court overturned the
decision on my oldest daughter and she was returned to me.
Upon my release I reunited with a good man I had dated previously and things
hadnt meant to be at the moment, and we began a life together. 13 days after my
release I had a job in a private accounting business which I ended up buying out
from my boss as he wanted to retire in Feb. 2014. I started my own business
obtained everything I would need to do to run it and began my journey into the
world of self employment.
On 12/28/2011 my fianc and I purchased our very own home in pavilion, NY and
continue to reside there with 2 of my children, 1 in college and 1 a senior in high
school. We have 2 dogs 2 cats and 8 chickens.
My fianc owns a shed building business, and I own an accounting business, I have
yearly contracts that include sales tax and such. I also manage 18 apartments for
one of my tax clients, doing most of the labor work cleaning and painting myself for
a small fee of 500 a month. I go on builds with my fianc using power tools and
such and assisting in building on my off season. I do all of his bookwork, payroll
and invoicing. We love each other, are raising kids and maintaining a life.
I have been out of prison since 2/2011 and have not drank, I have no trouble and
honestly believe that I have found my happiness that I no longer have the feelings I

needed to use alcohol to cover. I have a wonderful counselor who has helped me
through every step of the way. I have lived a law abiding life since 2008 and feel I
have proven that.
I have not touched alcohol since July 2008 and now know that I am just one who
cannot drink.
My deportation has completely disrupted the lives of my children, my significant
other and even my pets. We look to lose our house without the extra income and I
honestly feel that my case should have had a review.
There is NO justification for my past criminal history but I have changed that I have
changed who I am I have grown up so to speak I do not associate with trouble
makers, I maintain very professional relationships and I am trusted by my clients all
people in the community they do not feel a threat by me. Some of my biggest
clients are fully aware of my entire past and they STILL trust me. These are the
people that represent this country. If they can trust me then why cant the
government. I was an accountant I brought this government money.