One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.
Born in the Korean peninsula, her biological father was a member of the US armed forces, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," says Shirley, now 61.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
She was raised living a life similar to those of most young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and found mischief similar to other teenage Americans of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, entered matrimony and became a music instructor.
Life carried on for many years with no reason to doubt her US citizenship.
However in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her Social Security card and required a new one.
However when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she needed to prove her status in the country.
"I had a little mental breakdown upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she explains.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals are without citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.
Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their countries of birth in the past decade, as reported by advocacy groups.
Another Story
Another woman, who requested anonymity for concern about attracting the attention of authorities, was taken in by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my life, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. 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 Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Current Fears
These concerns for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further since shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"When the election results came in, it started to really cascade with requests for help," said a legal professional specializing in adoptee cases.
Stateless Feeling
"Ultimately, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I always tell people that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"From my perspective currently, I feel without a country."
Possible Resolution
Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for decades, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be treated the same as their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," commented an attorney.
Last Appeal
Shirley wishes she could meet with national leaders for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could share their experiences.
"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she stated.
"We were placed on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our story and please follow through with the promise that the United States made to every of the babies that were brought here: American citizenship."
