Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was taken in by a American couple during 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her biological father served of the US armed forces, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," says Shirley, currently in her sixties.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle comparable with that of many American youths.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief like many American teenagers of the 80s. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
Shirley had children, got married and worked as a piano teacher.
Life carried on for many years with little cause to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her Social Security card and needed a replacement.
But when she visited her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse after finding out 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.
Dozens adopted individuals have been removed to their countries of birth in recent years, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about attracting the attention of government officials, was adopted by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my existence, consistently believing that I was a US national. That was what I learned. 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 Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further since recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.
"Following political outcomes came in, it started to really cascade with requests for help," said a legal professional specializing in adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I frequently explain 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."
Possible Resolution
Despite adoptees 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 a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were US citizens at the time of birth," said an attorney.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and others like her could share their experiences.
"I would request to please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our accounts and please follow through with the commitment that the United States made to every of the babies that got on those planes: American citizenship."
