One adoptee was only twelve months when she was taken in by a US family during 1966.
Born in South Korea, her biological father was a member of the US armed forces, who went back soon after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the nicest way I can put it," says Shirley, currently in her sixties.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who took her back to Texas.
An American Upbringing
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief similar to other American teenagers during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, entered matrimony and became a music instructor.
Her life progressed for decades with little cause to doubt her American identity.
However in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her government identification and required a new one.
However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was informed she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she explains.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many American adoptees are without citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adoptees have been deported to their nations of origin in the past decade, according to advocacy groups.
Another Story
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of drawing notice of authorities, was adopted by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to 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 approved by courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Current Fears
These concerns for adoptees and their families have increased substantially since recent political changes.
Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by assistance inquiries and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"When the election results were announced, it started to really cascade with requests for help," noted a legal professional specializing in adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, 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 expressed.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"From my perspective currently, I feel without a country."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for many years, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of political will that should unite people from all political parties.
"This ought to be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be treated the same as their biological siblings of guardians who were US citizens at the time of birth," said a legal advocate.
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 please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said.
"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our story and please follow through with the promise that America gave each one of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."
