Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was taken in by a American couple during 1966.
Born in the Korean peninsula, her biological father was a member of the American military, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," states Shirley, now 61.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up living a life comparable with that of many American youths.
"I lived and breathed and found mischief similar to other American teenagers during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, entered matrimony and worked as a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for many years with no reason to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her government identification and required a new one.
However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was informed she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse after finding out I wasn't a citizen," she explains.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Estimates of how many American adoptees are without citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adoptees have been deported to their countries of birth in recent years, as reported by advocacy groups.
Another Story
Another woman, who requested anonymity for fear of drawing notice of government officials, was taken in by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my life, consistently believing that I was a US national. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Historical Context
For decades, intercountry adoptions authorized through legal systems did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Current Fears
Those fears for adoptees and their families have risen even further following recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been overwhelmed by assistance inquiries and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes came in, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," said an attorney working with adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I frequently explain this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"From my perspective currently, I feel stateless."
Possible Resolution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for decades, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be equal to their biological siblings of guardians who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," said an attorney.
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 show understanding. We're not illegal aliens," 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 gave each one of the children that got on those planes: US nationality."
