Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was taken in by a US family back in 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her biological father was a member of the US armed forces, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," says Shirley, currently in her sixties.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who took her back to Texas.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up living a life similar to those of most American youths.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief similar to other teenage Americans during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, entered matrimony and worked as a piano teacher.
Life carried on for many years with little cause to doubt her American identity.
However in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her Social Security card and needed a replacement.
But when she went to her government agency, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her status in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she explains.
Widespread Problem
This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many American adoptees 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
A different individual, who requested anonymity for concern about attracting the attention of government officials, was adopted by an American couple from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my existence, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she says.
Historical Context
Over many years, intercountry adoptions authorized through legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, granting automatic citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adopted individuals and their families have increased substantially following 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 started to really cascade with requests for help," said an attorney working with adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, they don't care about your back story. They don't care that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she said.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"From my perspective currently, I feel without a country."
Possible Resolution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for decades, legal experts believe it is just a case of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were American nationals at the time of birth," commented an attorney.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president into a room, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would request to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were put on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our accounts and honor with the promise that the United States made to every of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."
