One adoptee was only twelve months when she was taken in by a US family during 1966.
Born in South Korea, her biological father served of the American military, who went back soon after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the nicest way I can express it," says Shirley, currently in her sixties.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up living a life comparable with those of most American youths.
"I lived and breathed and got in trouble like many teenage Americans during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, got married and became 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.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her government identification and needed a replacement.
However when she visited her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I had a little mental breakdown after finding out I wasn't a citizen," she explains.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals are without citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adopted individuals have been removed to their nations of origin in recent years, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of drawing notice of government officials, was adopted by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my existence, always understanding 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 legal systems did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
These concerns for adopted individuals and their families have risen even further since shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and some adoptees have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes came in, it started to really cascade with requests for help," noted a legal professional specializing in adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They don't care that you're legally here and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I always tell people that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"From my perspective right now, I feel stateless."
Possible Resolution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for many years, attorneys believe it is just a case of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum.
"This ought to be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be equal to their biological siblings of guardians who were American nationals at the time of birth," commented a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders into a room, so she and others like her could explain their stories.
"I would request to please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were put on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our story and honor with the promise that America made to every of the babies that were brought here: US nationality."
