Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was taken in by a US family back in 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her birth father served of the US armed forces, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," states Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and found mischief similar to other teenage Americans during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, got married and became a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for decades with little cause to doubt her US citizenship.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She lost her government identification and required a new one.
But when she went to her government agency, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse after finding out I wasn't a citizen," she says.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Estimates of how many American adoptees lack citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Dozens adopted individuals have been removed to their countries of birth in recent years, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of drawing notice of authorities, was adopted by an American couple from the Middle East in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I adapted to my life, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Legal Background
Over many years, intercountry adoptions authorized through legal systems did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Current Fears
Those fears for adopted individuals and their relatives have increased substantially since shifts in administration.
Advocacy organizations say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.
"Following political outcomes were announced, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," noted an attorney specializing in adoption law.
Lacking National Identity
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel stateless."
Possible Resolution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for decades, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of political will 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 guardians who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," commented a legal advocate.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would request to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she stated.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Just please hear our story and please follow through with the promise that the United States gave each one of the children that got on those planes: US nationality."
