Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was taken in by a American couple during 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her birth father was a member of the American military, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," says Shirley, now 61.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
She was raised living a life comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and got in trouble like many teenage Americans of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, entered matrimony and worked as a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for decades with little cause to doubt her American identity.
However in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her Social Security card and required a new one.
However when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was informed she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.
A Common Issue
This situation isn't unique. Approximations of how many American adoptees are without citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their nations of origin in the past decade, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
A different individual, who requested anonymity for fear of attracting the attention of authorities, was adopted by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I adapted to my existence, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I continue to feel that today," she says.
Legal Background
For decades, intercountry adoptions approved by legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Current Fears
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further following shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and some adoptees have gone into hiding.
"When the election results came in, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," noted a legal professional specializing in adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, they don't care about your personal history. They don't care that you're legally here and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for decades, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of political will that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"It should be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were American nationals at the time of birth," said a legal advocate.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could share their experiences.
"I would request to please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she said.
"We were put on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our accounts and honor with the commitment that the United States made to every of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."
