One adoptee was only twelve months when she was taken in by a American couple back in 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her biological father was a member of the American military, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," states Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up living a life similar to those of most American youths.
"I lived and breathed and got in trouble like many American teenagers during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, got married and became a music instructor.
Life carried on for many years with no reason to question her American identity.
However in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her government identification and required a new one.
But when she went to 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 American adoptees lack citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adoptees have been deported to their countries of birth in recent years, according to advocacy groups.
Additional Account
A different individual, who requested anonymity for fear of attracting the attention of authorities, was adopted by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my existence, always understanding that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Legal Background
For decades, intercountry adoptions authorized through legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Current Fears
These concerns for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further since shifts in administration.
Advocacy organizations say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.
"Following political outcomes came in, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," said an attorney specializing in adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your personal history. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for decades, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"It should be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," commented a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president into a room, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"I would request 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 got on those planes: US nationality."
