One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a US family during 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her birth father was a member of the American military, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the nicest way I can put it," states Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most American youths.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief like many American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
Shirley had children, got married and became a music instructor.
Life carried on for decades with no reason to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her Social Security card and required a new one.
But when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.
Widespread Problem
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship vary between thousands to tens of thousands.
Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their countries of birth in the past decade, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
A different individual, who requested anonymity for fear of drawing notice of government officials, was taken in by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I settled into my existence, consistently believing that I was a US national. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she says.
Legal Background
Over many years, international adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not assure US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
These concerns for adoptees and their families have risen even further following recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results came in, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," noted an attorney working with adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"Ultimately, they don't care about your personal history. They don't care 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 right now, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for many years, legal experts believe it is just a case of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"This ought to be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be equal to their biological siblings of guardians who were US citizens at the time of birth," said an attorney.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders into a room, so she and similar individuals 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 story and honor with the commitment that America gave each one of the children that were brought here: US nationality."
