One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a US family back in 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her birth father was a member of the US armed forces, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the nicest way I can put it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who brought her to Texas.
Growing Up American
She was raised living a life similar to that of many young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and got in trouble like many teenage Americans during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, got married and became a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for decades with no reason to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her Social Security card and required a new one.
But when she visited her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she says.
Widespread Problem
This situation isn't unique. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adoptees have been deported to their countries of birth in the past decade, according to advocacy groups.
Additional Account
Another woman, who requested anonymity for fear of drawing notice of authorities, was taken in by an American couple from the Middle East in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I settled into my life, consistently believing that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Legal Background
Over many years, intercountry adoptions authorized through courts and government agencies did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Current Fears
These concerns for adopted individuals and their families have increased substantially following shifts in administration.
Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"When the election results came in, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," noted a legal professional working with adoption law.
Stateless Feeling
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your personal history. They don't care that you're legally here and it's merely documentation issues," she said.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for many years, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum.
"This ought to be an uncomplicated solution: children through adoption should be equal to their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," commented an attorney.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and others like her could share their experiences.
"I would ask him to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our story and please follow through with the promise that the United States gave each one of the babies that got on those planes: American citizenship."
