One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple during 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 nicest way I can express it," says Shirley, now 61.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who took her back to Texas.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I moved 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, entered matrimony and became a piano teacher.
Life carried on for decades with no reason to doubt her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her government identification and needed a replacement.
However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she explains.
Widespread Problem
This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals are without citizenship vary between 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adoptees have been deported to their countries of birth in the past decade, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
A different individual, who requested anonymity for concern about drawing notice of authorities, was adopted by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I adapted to my existence, consistently believing that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she says.
Historical Context
Over many years, intercountry adoptions authorized through courts and government agencies 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
These concerns for adoptees and their families have increased substantially since shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and some adoptees have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes were announced, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," said 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 frequently explain that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being left in limbo for many years, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"It should be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be equal to their biological siblings of parents who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," commented an attorney.
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 placed on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our accounts and honor with the commitment that the United States gave each one of the babies that got on those planes: US nationality."
