One adoptee was only twelve months when she was adopted by a US family during 1966.
Born in 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.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up living a life comparable with that of many American youths.
"I lived and breathed and got in trouble similar to other American teenagers of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
Shirley had children, got married and worked as a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for decades with little cause to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She lost her Social Security card and needed a replacement.
But when she visited her government agency, Shirley was informed 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
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adoptees have been removed to their nations of origin in the past decade, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
Another woman, who requested anonymity for fear of drawing notice of government officials, was taken in by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I adapted to my existence, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she says.
Historical Context
Over many years, intercountry adoptions authorized through legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Current Fears
These concerns for adoptees and their families have increased substantially following shifts in administration.
Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes were announced, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," noted a legal professional working with adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your personal history. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she said.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"From my perspective right now, I feel without a country."
Possible Resolution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for many years, legal experts believe it is just a case of legislative action that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were American nationals at the time of birth," said a legal advocate.
Final Plea
Shirley wishes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and others like her could share their experiences.
"I would request to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Just please hear our story and honor with the commitment that America gave each one of the babies that got on those planes: American citizenship."
