Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was adopted 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 abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," says Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and found mischief like many American teenagers of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
She became a mother, got married and worked as a piano teacher.
Life carried on for decades with little cause to doubt her US citizenship.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her Social Security card and required a new one.
However when she visited her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Estimates of how many American adoptees are without citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adopted individuals have been deported to their countries of birth in recent years, as reported by advocacy groups.
Another Story
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of attracting the attention of government officials, was taken in by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I settled into my existence, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she says.
Historical Context
For decades, international adoptions authorized through courts and government agencies did not assure US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Current Fears
Those fears for adopted individuals and their families have increased substantially since recent political changes.
Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results came in, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," said a legal professional specializing in adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"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 merely documentation issues," she said.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she stated.
"From my perspective right now, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for decades, legal experts believe it is just a case of legislative action that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"It should be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of parents who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," said a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would ask him to show understanding. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our story and honor with the commitment that the United States made to every of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."
