One adoptee was just a year old when she was taken in by a American couple during 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 express it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up living a life similar to those of most young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief like many teenage Americans during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.
Shirley had children, entered matrimony and became a music instructor.
Her life progressed for decades with little cause to doubt her American identity.
But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her government identification and required a new one.
But when she visited her government agency, Shirley was told she had to demonstrate her status in the country.
"I experienced an emotional collapse upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she explains.
A Common Issue
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adoptees have been deported to their countries of birth in the past decade, as reported by advocacy groups.
Additional Account
Another woman, who requested anonymity for fear of drawing notice of authorities, was taken in by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I settled into my existence, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I continue to feel 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 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further following recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"Following political outcomes were announced, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," said an attorney specializing in 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 expressed.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Despite adoptees being left in limbo for decades, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of political will that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum.
"It should be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were US citizens at the moment of their birth," commented a legal advocate.
Final Plea
Shirley wishes she could meet with national leaders 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 stated.
"We were placed on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and please follow through with the promise that America made to every of the babies that were brought here: US nationality."
