Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was taken in by a US family back in 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her birth father was a member of the US armed forces, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," says Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who brought her to Texas.
An American Upbringing
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many American youths.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief similar to other teenage Americans during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
Shirley had children, entered matrimony and became a music instructor.
Life carried on for many years with no reason to doubt her US citizenship.
However in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her Social Security card and required a new one.
But when she went to her government agency, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her status in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many American adoptees lack citizenship vary between 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adoptees have been deported to their nations of origin in the past decade, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about drawing notice of authorities, was taken in by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I settled into my life, consistently believing that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she states.
Legal Background
Over many years, intercountry adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Current Fears
Those fears for adoptees and their families have increased substantially following shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes were announced, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," noted an attorney working with adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"Ultimately, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"From my perspective right now, I feel stateless."
Possible Resolution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for decades, legal experts believe it is just a case of legislative action that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: 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
Shirley wishes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our accounts and please follow through with the promise that the United States made to every of the babies that got on those planes: US nationality."
