One adoptee was just a year old when she was taken in by a US family during 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her biological father served of the American military, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the nicest way 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 the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle similar to those of most young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and got in trouble similar to other American teenagers of the 80s. I belong of the 80s," Shirley says.
She became a mother, got married and became a music instructor.
Her life progressed for decades with no reason to question her American identity.
However in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her government identification and required a new one.
But when she visited her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced a little mental breakdown after finding out I wasn't a citizen," she says.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Estimates of how many American adoptees are without citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adopted individuals have been removed to their countries of birth in recent years, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of attracting the attention of authorities, was adopted by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my life, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Legal Background
For decades, international adoptions approved by legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further since recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results came in, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," noted an attorney working with adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, 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 that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for many years, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"It should be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be treated the same as their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," said a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
Shirley wishes she could meet with national leaders for a discussion, so she and others like her could share their experiences.
"I would request to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our story and honor with the commitment that the United States made to every of the children that got on those planes: US nationality."
