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 US armed forces, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," states Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up living a life similar to that of many young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and got in trouble like many teenage Americans during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, entered matrimony and worked as a music instructor.
Life carried on for decades with no reason to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her Social Security card and required a new one.
But when she went to her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse after finding out I lacked citizenship," she explains.
A Common Issue
This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many American adoptees are without citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adoptees have been deported to their nations of origin in the past decade, as reported by advocacy groups.
Another Story
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of attracting the attention of government officials, was adopted by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my life, always understanding that I was a US national. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she says.
Legal Background
For decades, intercountry adoptions authorized through legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Current Fears
Those fears for adopted individuals and their relatives have risen even further since recent political changes.
Advocacy organizations say they have been flooded with requests for help and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results came in, it started to really cascade with requests for help," said a legal professional specializing in adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"Ultimately, they don't care about your back story. They don't care that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for decades, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of political will that should unite people from all political parties.
"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 moment of their birth," commented an attorney.
Final Plea
Shirley wishes she could get the US president into a room, so she and others like her could share their experiences.
"I would ask him to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were placed on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Just please hear our accounts and honor with the promise that the United States gave each one of the children that got on those planes: US nationality."
