One adoptee was only twelve months when she was adopted by a US family during 1966.
Hailing from South Korea, her birth father served of the US armed forces, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," says Shirley, now 61.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who took her back to Texas.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up living a life similar to those of most young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief like many American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, entered matrimony and became a music instructor.
Her life progressed for many years with no reason to doubt her US citizenship.
However in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her Social Security card and required a new one.
However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I had a little mental breakdown after finding out I wasn't a citizen," she says.
A Common Issue
This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many American adoptees are without citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their nations of origin in the past decade, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
Another woman, who requested anonymity for concern about attracting the attention 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.
Historical Context
Over many years, intercountry adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not assure US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to international adoptees.
Current Fears
These concerns for adopted individuals and their families have risen even further following shifts in administration.
Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by assistance inquiries and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results were announced, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," noted an attorney specializing in adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, authorities aren't concerned about your personal history. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being left in limbo for many years, legal experts believe it is just a case of political will that should unite people from all political parties.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be treated the same as their biological siblings of parents who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," commented an attorney.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president into a room, so she and others like her could explain their stories.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she stated.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our story and please follow through with the commitment that America made to every of the babies that got on those planes: US nationality."
