Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was taken in by a American couple during 1966.
Born in the Korean peninsula, 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," says Shirley, currently in her sixties.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who brought her to Texas.
Growing Up American
She was raised living a life comparable with those of most American youths.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief similar to other American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, got married and became a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for many years with little cause to question her US citizenship.
However in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her Social Security card and required a new one.
However when she visited her government agency, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced a little mental breakdown upon discovering I lacked citizenship," 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 removed to their countries of birth in recent years, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of drawing notice of authorities, was taken in by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my life, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Legal Background
For decades, international adoptions approved by legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adopted individuals and their relatives have increased substantially since recent political changes.
Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results came in, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," noted an attorney specializing in adoptee cases.
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 expressed.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"From my perspective right now, I feel without a country."
Possible Resolution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for many years, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"It should be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," said a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
Shirley wishes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could share their experiences.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were put on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our story and honor with the promise that America made to every of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."
