One adoptee was only twelve months when she was taken in by a US family during 1966.
Born in the Korean peninsula, her biological father served of the US armed forces, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who brought her to Texas.
An American Upbringing
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and got in trouble similar to other teenage Americans during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, entered matrimony and became a piano teacher.
Life carried on for decades with little cause to doubt her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her Social Security card and needed a replacement.
However when she visited her local Social Security office, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced a little mental breakdown after finding out I lacked citizenship," she explains.
A Common Issue
This situation isn't unique. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their countries of birth in the past decade, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
A different individual, who requested anonymity for concern about attracting the attention of authorities, was adopted by an American couple from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my life, consistently believing that I was a US national. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she says.
Historical Context
For decades, international 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 international adoptees.
Current Fears
These concerns for adopted individuals and their relatives have risen even further since shifts in administration.
Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results were announced, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," noted an attorney working with adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for many years, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"It should be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be treated the same as their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," commented a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders into a room, so she and similar individuals could share their experiences.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she said.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our accounts and honor with the commitment that the United States gave each one of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."
