One adoptee was just a year old when she was taken in by a US family during 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her birth father was a member of the US armed forces, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.
"He abandoned us, is the nicest way I can express it," says Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who took her back to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
She was raised experiencing a lifestyle comparable with those of most young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and found mischief like many teenage Americans during the eighties. I belong 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 question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
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 after finding out I lacked citizenship," she says.
Widespread Problem
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many American adoptees lack citizenship vary between 18,000 to 75,000.
Dozens adoptees have been removed to their countries of birth in the past decade, according to adoptee rights organizations.
Another Story
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of attracting the attention of government officials, was taken in by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I adapted to my existence, consistently believing that I was a US national. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she states.
Historical Context
For decades, international adoptions authorized through courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have increased substantially since recent political changes.
Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"When the election results came in, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," noted an attorney working with adoptee cases.
Lacking National Identity
"Ultimately, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she said.
"I frequently explain this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.
"As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel stateless."
Possible Resolution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for decades, legal experts believe it is just a case of legislative action that should unite people from across the political spectrum.
"It should be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be treated the same as their biological siblings of parents who were American nationals at the time of birth," said a legal advocate.
Last Appeal
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 please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she said.
"We were put on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Just please hear our story and honor with the commitment that America made to every of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."
