One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.
Born in South Korea, her birth father served of the US armed forces, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," says Shirley, now 61.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle similar to those of most 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 says.
She became a mother, got married and worked as a music instructor.
Life carried on for many years with little cause to question her US citizenship.
However in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her government identification and needed a replacement.
However when she visited her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many American adoptees are without citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adopted individuals have been removed to their nations of origin in recent years, according to advocacy groups.
Additional Account
A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of drawing notice of authorities, was taken in by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my existence, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she says.
Legal Background
Over many years, intercountry adoptions approved by legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adoptees and their families have increased substantially since recent political changes.
Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by assistance inquiries and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"Following political outcomes came in, it started to really cascade with requests for help," noted an attorney working with adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she said.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for many years, attorneys believe it is just a case of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be equal to their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," said an attorney.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president into a room, so she and similar individuals could share their experiences.
"I would request to show understanding. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Just please hear our story and honor with the promise that America made to every of the babies that were brought here: American citizenship."
