One adoptee was only twelve months when she was taken in by a US family during 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her biological father was a member of the American military, who went back soon after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the nicest way I can express it," says Shirley, now 61.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most American youths.
"I moved and breathed and got in trouble like many American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
Shirley had children, got married and became a piano teacher.
Life carried on for many years with no reason to doubt her US citizenship.
However in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her government identification and required a new one.
But when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was told 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. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adoptees have been removed to their countries of birth in the past decade, according to advocacy groups.
Additional Account
A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about attracting the attention of government officials, was taken in by an American couple from the Middle East in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I settled into my life, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she states.
Historical Context
Over many years, intercountry adoptions authorized through legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Current Fears
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have increased substantially following shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"When the election results came in, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," noted an attorney specializing in adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, they don't care about your back story. They don't care that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"From my perspective right now, I feel without a country."
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 an uncomplicated solution: children through adoption should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," said an attorney.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president into a room, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were put on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our accounts and honor with the commitment that America gave each one of the babies that were brought here: American citizenship."
