Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was taken in by a US family during 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her birth father served of the American military, 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 took her back to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
She was raised living a life comparable with that of many young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and got in trouble similar to other American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, entered matrimony and became a music instructor.
Her life progressed for decades with little cause to doubt her US citizenship.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She lost her government identification and required a new one.
However when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was informed she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she says.
A Common Issue
This situation isn't unique. Estimates 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 the past decade, as reported by advocacy groups.
Additional Account
Another woman, who requested anonymity for fear of attracting the attention of authorities, was taken in 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 states.
Historical Context
Over many years, international adoptions authorized through legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, granting automatic citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adopted individuals and their families have risen even further since recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes came in, it started to really cascade with requests for help," noted a legal professional working with adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They don't care that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I frequently explain this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for decades, attorneys believe it is just a case of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum.
"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 time of birth," said a legal advocate.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders into a room, 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 put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and please follow through with the commitment that America made to every of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."
