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Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was adopted by a US family during 1966.

Born in South Korea, her birth father served of the American military, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.

"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," states Shirley, now 61.

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 that of many young Americans.

"I lived 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, got married and worked as a piano teacher.

Her life progressed for many years with no reason to question her American identity.

However in 2012, her world came crashing down.

Discovering Non-Citizen Status

She lost her government identification and needed a replacement.

However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was told she had to demonstrate her status in the country.

"I experienced a little mental breakdown upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she explains.

Widespread Problem

This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals are without citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.

Numerous adoptees have been removed to their nations of origin in the past decade, as reported by adoptee rights organizations.

Another Story

Another woman, who requested anonymity for concern about attracting the attention of government officials, was taken in by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.

"I settled into my life, always understanding that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she says.

Legal Background

For decades, international adoptions authorized through courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to children adopted from abroad.

Current Fears

These concerns for adoptees and their relatives have increased substantially following shifts in administration.

Advocacy organizations say they have been flooded with requests for help and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.

"When the election results came in, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," noted a legal professional working with adoption law.

Lacking National Identity

"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your personal history. They don't care that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.

"I always tell people that one document 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 decades, attorneys believe it is simply a matter of political will that should unite people from across the political spectrum.

"It should be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be equal to their biological siblings of guardians who were American nationals at the time of birth," commented an attorney.

Last Appeal

The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders for a discussion, so she and others like her could share their experiences.

"I would request to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she stated.

"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and honor with the commitment that the United States made to every of the babies that got on those planes: American citizenship."