One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her birth father was a member of the American military, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," says Shirley, currently in her sixties.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who brought her to Texas.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and found mischief similar to other American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
Shirley had children, entered matrimony and worked as a piano teacher.
Life carried on for decades with little cause to doubt her US citizenship.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Citizenship Crisis
She lost her Social Security card and required a new one.
But when she visited her government agency, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate 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 American adoptees are without citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adoptees have been removed to their nations of origin in recent years, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
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 life, always understanding that I was a US national. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Legal Background
For decades, international adoptions authorized through legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, granting automatic citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Current Fears
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further following recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries 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 working with adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your personal history. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she said.
"I frequently explain this one single piece of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"From my perspective currently, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being left in limbo for many years, legal experts believe it is just a case of legislative action that should unite people from all political parties.
"It should be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be treated the same as their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," commented an attorney.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and others like her could explain their stories.
"I would ask him to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our accounts and please follow through with the commitment that America gave each one of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."
