One adoptee was just a year old when she was taken in by a American couple back in 1966.
Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her birth father served of the American military, who went back soon after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," says Shirley, now 61.
After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who brought her to the Lone Star State.
Growing Up American
Shirley grew up living a life similar to those of most young Americans.
"I lived and breathed and got in trouble like many teenage Americans during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
Shirley had children, got married and became a music instructor.
Her life progressed for many years with no reason to question her American identity.
But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Citizenship Crisis
She misplaced her Social Security card and required a new one.
But when she visited her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.
"I experienced a little mental breakdown upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.
Widespread Problem
Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals are without citizenship vary between 18,000 to 75,000.
Numerous adoptees have been deported to their nations of origin in recent years, according to advocacy groups.
Additional Account
Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about drawing notice of authorities, was adopted by an American couple from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.
"I adapted to my existence, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I continue to feel that today," she states.
Historical Context
For decades, intercountry adoptions approved by legal systems did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.
The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, providing immediate citizenship to international adoptees.
Present Concerns
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further following shifts in administration.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and certain individuals have gone into hiding.
"When the election results were announced, it started to really cascade with requests for help," said an attorney working with adoption law.
Lacking National Identity
"At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your personal history. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's just a paperwork error," she expressed.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.
"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel stateless."
Potential Solution
Although these individuals being left in limbo for many years, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of political will that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum.
"This ought to be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be equal to their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were US citizens at the time of birth," commented an attorney.
Last Appeal
Shirley wishes she could meet with national leaders into a room, so she and others like her 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 little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and please follow through with the promise that the United States gave each one of the babies that got on those planes: US nationality."
