One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.
Born in South Korea, her biological father served of the American military, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can express it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle similar to those of most young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief like many teenage Americans during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, got married and became a piano teacher.
Life carried on for many years with little cause to question her US citizenship.
However in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her Social Security card and needed a replacement.
However when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her status in the country.
"I experienced a little mental breakdown upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she explains.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship vary between 18,000 to 75,000.
Numerous adoptees have been removed to their countries of birth in the past decade, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
Another woman, who requested anonymity for fear of attracting the attention of government officials, was taken in by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I settled into my existence, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I continue to feel that today," she says.
Legal Background
For decades, international adoptions approved by legal systems did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adopted individuals and their relatives have risen even further following recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been overwhelmed by assistance inquiries and some adoptees have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes were announced, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," noted an attorney specializing in adoption law.
Lacking National Identity
"At the end of the day, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she said.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"From my perspective right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for many years, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"This ought to be an uncomplicated solution: children through adoption should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of parents who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," commented an attorney.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes 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 said.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our story and please follow through with the commitment that the United States made to every of the children that were brought here: US nationality."
