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 American military, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the nicest way I can put it," states Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who brought her to Texas.
An American Upbringing
She was raised living a life comparable with those of most American youths.
"I moved and breathed and got in trouble like many teenage Americans of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, got married and worked as a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for decades with no reason to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her government identification and needed a replacement.
But when she went to her government agency, Shirley was informed she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced a little mental breakdown after finding out I wasn't a citizen," she explains.
Widespread Problem
This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship vary between 18,000 to 75,000.
Numerous adoptees 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 fear of attracting the attention of government officials, was taken in by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my existence, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she states.
Historical Context
For decades, international adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adopted individuals and their families have increased substantially following shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"When the election results were announced, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," noted a legal professional working with adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's merely documentation issues," she said.
"I frequently explain this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being left in limbo for many years, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"It should be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," said a legal advocate.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would request to show understanding. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and please follow through with the commitment that the United States gave each one of the babies that were brought here: American citizenship."
