Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her birth father served of the American military, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who took her back to Texas.
An American Upbringing
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief similar to other teenage Americans during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, got married and worked as a piano teacher.
Life carried on for many years with little cause to doubt her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her government identification and needed a replacement.
However when she visited her government agency, Shirley was informed 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
This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adoptees have been removed to their countries of birth in recent years, as reported by advocacy groups.
Additional Account
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about drawing notice of authorities, was adopted by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my existence, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she states.
Historical Context
For decades, international adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not assure 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 recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.
"Following political outcomes came in, it started to really cascade with requests for help," said a legal professional specializing in adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"From my perspective currently, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for many years, legal experts believe it is just a case of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," said a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
Shirley wishes she could meet with national leaders for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could share their experiences.
"I would request to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she stated.
"We were put on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our story and please follow through with the promise that America made to every of the children that got on those planes: US nationality."
