One adoptee was just a year old when she was taken in by a US family during 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her biological father served of the US armed forces, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the nicest way I can put it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up living a life similar to that of many American youths.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief like many American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley says.
She became a mother, entered matrimony and worked as a music instructor.
Her life progressed for many years with no reason to doubt her US citizenship.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her government identification and required a new one.
However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she explains.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adopted individuals have been removed to their countries of birth in recent years, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
Another woman, who requested anonymity for concern about drawing notice of government officials, was adopted by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my life, always understanding that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she states.
Historical Context
Over many years, intercountry adoptions authorized through legal systems did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
These concerns for adoptees and their relatives have increased substantially since recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and some adoptees have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes came in, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," said an attorney working with adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I always tell people that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for decades, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"It should be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of parents who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," said a legal advocate.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president into a room, so she and others like her could explain their stories.
"I would request to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our story and please follow through with the commitment that the United States made to every of the children that were brought here: US nationality."
