Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was taken in by a American couple during 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her birth father served of the US armed forces, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the nicest way I can put it," says Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, 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 experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief like many American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, got married and worked as a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for many years with little cause to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her government identification and needed a replacement.
But when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she had to demonstrate her legal standing in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.
A Common Issue
This situation isn't unique. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their countries of birth in the past decade, as reported by advocacy groups.
Additional Account
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about drawing notice of government officials, was adopted by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I adapted to my existence, always understanding that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she states.
Legal Background
For decades, international adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further since shifts in administration.
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 a legal professional working with adoption law.
Lacking National Identity
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I frequently explain this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for decades, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"This ought to be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be equal to their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," said a legal advocate.
Final Plea
Shirley wishes she could get the US president into a room, so she and others like her could share their experiences.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she said.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and please follow through with the promise that America gave each one of the children that were brought here: American citizenship."
