Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was adopted by a US family during 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her biological father served of the American military, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the nicest way I can put it," says Shirley, now 61.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who took her back to Texas.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and got in trouble similar to other American teenagers during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, got married and worked as a music instructor.
Life carried on for decades with little cause to doubt her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her government identification and needed a replacement.
However when she visited her local Social Security office, Shirley was informed she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse after finding out I wasn't a citizen," she explains.
Widespread Problem
This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many American adoptees lack citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Dozens adoptees have been removed to their countries of birth in the past decade, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
A different individual, who requested anonymity for fear of drawing notice of authorities, 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 a US national. That was what I learned. I continue to feel that today," she says.
Legal Background
For decades, intercountry adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not assure US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adopted individuals and their families have increased substantially since shifts in administration.
Advocacy organizations say they have been flooded with requests for help and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results were announced, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," noted a legal professional specializing in adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, they don't care about your personal history. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I always tell people that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for decades, legal experts believe it is just a case of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"It should be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of parents who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," said a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders for a discussion, so she and others like her could explain their stories.
"I would request to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she stated.
"We were placed 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 babies that were brought here: US nationality."
