One adoptee was only twelve months when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her birth father served of the US armed forces, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the nicest way I can express it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle comparable with that of many young Americans.
"I moved and breathed and found mischief similar to other teenage Americans during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
She became a mother, got married and became a piano teacher.
Her life progressed for decades with little cause to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She misplaced her government identification and required a new one.
But when she visited her government agency, Shirley was informed she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I had a little mental breakdown upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she says.
Widespread Problem
Shirley is not alone. Estimates of how many American adoptees lack citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.
Dozens adoptees have been deported to their countries of birth in the past decade, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Additional Account
Another woman, who requested anonymity for concern about attracting the attention of government officials, was adopted by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my existence, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she says.
Historical Context
Over many years, international adoptions approved by legal systems did not assure US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, granting automatic citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
These concerns for adopted individuals and their families have risen even further since shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"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 back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's just a paperwork error," she said.
"I always tell people this one single piece of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"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 simply a matter of political will that should unite people from all political parties.
"It should be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be equal to their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," said a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
The adoptee hopes she could meet with national leaders into a room, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.
"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. Please listen to our accounts and honor with the commitment that the United States made to every of the children that were brought here: American citizenship."
