Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.
Born in the Korean peninsula, her birth father served of the US armed forces, who went back soon after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the nicest way I can put it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who brought her to Texas.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up living a life comparable with that of many young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and got in trouble similar to other teenage Americans during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
Shirley had children, got married and became a piano teacher.
Life carried on for many years with no reason to doubt her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her Social Security card and needed a replacement.
However 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 after finding out I lacked citizenship," she explains.
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 deported to their nations of origin in recent years, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about drawing notice of authorities, was adopted by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my existence, always understanding that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she says.
Historical Context
For decades, intercountry adoptions authorized through courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee 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 adoptees and their families 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.
"Following political outcomes came in, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," said a legal professional specializing in adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"Ultimately, authorities aren't concerned about your personal history. 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.
"From my perspective right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for many years, attorneys believe it is just a case of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum.
"It should be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," commented a legal advocate.
Final Plea
Shirley wishes she could get the US president into a room, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would ask him to show understanding. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were put on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our story and please follow through with the commitment that the United States gave each one of the babies that got on those planes: American citizenship."
