Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple back in 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her birth father served of the American military, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," says Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many American youths.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief similar to other American teenagers of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, got married and became a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for many years with no reason to doubt her US citizenship.
However in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her government identification and required a new one.
But when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she had to demonstrate her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced a little mental breakdown upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.
Widespread Problem
Shirley is not alone. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals are without citizenship vary between 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adopted individuals have been removed to their countries of birth in the past decade, as reported by advocacy groups.
Another Story
A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of drawing notice of government officials, was taken in by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I adapted to my existence, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she says.
Legal Background
For decades, intercountry adoptions authorized through courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
These concerns for adoptees and their relatives have increased substantially following shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results came in, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," noted a legal professional working with adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your personal history. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"From my perspective currently, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals 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 an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," commented an attorney.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders into a room, so she and similar individuals could share their experiences.
"I would ask him to show understanding. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were placed on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and honor with the commitment that the United States gave each one of the children that were brought here: American citizenship."
