One adoptee was only twelve months when she was adopted by a US family back in 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her biological father was a member of the American military, who went back soon after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the nicest way I can express it," states 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
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and got in trouble like many American teenagers during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
She became a mother, entered matrimony and worked as a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for many years with no reason to doubt her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She lost her Social Security card and needed a replacement.
However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was informed she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I had a little mental breakdown upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she says.
Widespread Problem
This situation isn't unique. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals are without citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their countries of birth in recent years, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
A different individual, who requested anonymity for fear of drawing notice of authorities, was adopted by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my existence, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Historical Context
Over many years, intercountry adoptions authorized through courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Current Fears
Those fears for adoptees and their families have increased substantially since recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and some adoptees have gone into hiding.
"When the election results came in, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," noted a legal professional working with adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, they don't care about your back story. They don't care 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 said.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for many years, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"It should be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be treated the same as their biological siblings of parents who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," commented a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders for a discussion, so she and others like her could share their experiences.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our story and honor with the commitment that the United States made to every of the babies that were brought here: American citizenship."
