Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was taken in by a US family back in 1966.
Born in South Korea, her biological father was a member of the US armed forces, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and found mischief 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.
Her life progressed for decades with little cause to doubt her American identity.
However in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her government identification and needed a replacement.
However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.
A Common Issue
This situation isn't unique. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals are without citizenship vary between 18,000 to 75,000.
Numerous adoptees have been removed to their countries of birth in recent years, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
A different individual, who requested anonymity for fear of attracting the attention of government officials, was taken in by an American couple from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my existence, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she states.
Legal Background
For decades, intercountry adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, granting automatic citizenship to international adoptees.
Current Fears
Those fears for adoptees and their families have risen even further following recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes came in, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," noted an attorney working with 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 said.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for decades, attorneys believe it is just a case of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"This ought to be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be treated the same as their biological siblings of guardians who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," said a legal advocate.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were placed on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Just please hear our accounts and honor with the commitment that America gave each one of the children that got on those planes: US nationality."
