One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her birth 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, currently in her sixties.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who brought her to Texas.
An American Upbringing
She was raised living a life similar to that of many American youths.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief like many teenage Americans of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
She became a mother, got married and became a piano teacher.
Life carried on for decades with no reason to doubt her American identity.
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 local Social Security office, Shirley was told she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse after finding out I lacked citizenship," she says.
Widespread Problem
This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adoptees have been deported to their nations of origin in recent years, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of attracting the attention of authorities, was taken in by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my existence, always understanding that I was a US national. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she says.
Legal Background
For decades, intercountry adoptions authorized through courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
These concerns for adoptees and their families have increased substantially since shifts in administration.
Advocacy organizations say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"Following political outcomes came in, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," noted an attorney specializing in adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"Ultimately, they don't care about your personal history. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she said.
"I always tell people that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel without a country."
Possible Resolution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for decades, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of political will that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be treated the same as their biological siblings of guardians who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," said a legal advocate.
Final Plea
Shirley wishes she could meet with national leaders into a room, so she and others like her could share their experiences.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she stated.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and honor with the promise that the United States gave each one of the babies that got on those planes: US nationality."
