Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was taken in by a American couple during 1966.
Born in South Korea, her birth father was a member of the US armed forces, who returned home 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 welcomed into the home of a US couple, who took her back to Texas.
Growing Up American
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief like many teenage Americans of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
She became a mother, got married and became a music instructor.
Her life progressed for many years with little cause to question her American identity.
However in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Citizenship Crisis
She lost her government identification and required a new one.
However when she visited her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced a little mental breakdown after finding out I wasn't a citizen," she explains.
Widespread Problem
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many American adoptees lack citizenship vary between 18,000 to 75,000.
Numerous adopted individuals have been removed to their nations of origin in recent years, according to advocacy groups.
Another Story
A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of drawing notice of government officials, was taken in by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my existence, consistently believing that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she states.
Legal Background
Over many years, intercountry adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not assure US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
These concerns for adopted individuals and their relatives have risen even further since shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and some adoptees have gone into hiding.
"When the election results came in, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," noted an attorney specializing in adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, they don't care about your personal history. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I always tell people that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"From my perspective currently, I feel stateless."
Possible Resolution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for decades, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"It should be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," commented an attorney.
Final Plea
Shirley wishes she could get the US president into a room, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would ask him to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she stated.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our accounts and please follow through with the promise that America gave each one of the babies that were brought here: US nationality."
