Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was adopted by a American couple back in 1966.
Born in the Korean peninsula, her birth father was a member of the US armed forces, who returned home soon 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 adopted by a US couple, who brought her to Texas.
Growing Up American
She was raised living a life comparable with those of most American youths.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief similar to other American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley says.
She became a mother, got married and became a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for many years with no reason to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her government identification and needed a replacement.
However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her status in the country.
"I experienced a little mental breakdown upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she explains.
Widespread Problem
Shirley is not alone. 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, according to advocacy groups.
Another Story
A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of drawing notice of government officials, was taken in by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my existence, consistently believing that I was a US national. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she says.
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 made some headway in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
These concerns for adopted individuals and their relatives have increased substantially since shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and some adoptees have gone into hiding.
"When the election results were announced, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," noted a legal professional working with adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's just a paperwork error," she said.
"I frequently explain this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being left in limbo for decades, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of political will that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"It should be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be treated the same as their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," said a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
Shirley wishes she could get the US president into a room, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would request to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and honor with the commitment that America gave each one of the babies that were brought here: American citizenship."
