One adoptee was only twelve months when she was adopted by a US family back in 1966.
Born in the Korean peninsula, her birth father was a member of the US armed forces, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the nicest way I can put it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most American youths.
"I lived and breathed and found mischief similar to other teenage Americans of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
She became a mother, got married and worked as a music instructor.
Life carried on for decades with no reason to question her US citizenship.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She lost her Social Security card and required a new one.
However when she visited her government agency, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her status in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse after finding out I lacked citizenship," she explains.
A Common Issue
This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.
Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their nations of origin in the past decade, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
Another woman, who requested anonymity for fear of attracting the attention of government officials, was adopted by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my life, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I continue to feel that today," she says.
Legal Background
Over many years, international adoptions authorized through legal systems did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, granting automatic citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further since shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results were announced, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," noted a legal professional working with adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's merely documentation issues," she said.
"I frequently explain this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel stateless."
Possible Resolution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for many years, attorneys believe it is just a case of political will that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be treated the same as their biological siblings of guardians who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," commented a legal advocate.
Final Plea
Shirley wishes she could get the US president into a room, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would ask him to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she stated.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our accounts and please follow through with the promise that the United States gave each one of the babies that were brought here: US nationality."
