One adoptee was just a year old when she was taken in by a American couple during 1966.
Born in South Korea, her birth father was a member of the American military, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.
"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," says Shirley, currently in her sixties.
Approximately one year later, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who brought her to Texas.
An American Upbringing
Shirley grew up living a life similar to those of most American youths.
"I lived and breathed and found mischief similar to other American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.
Shirley had children, got married and worked as a piano teacher.
Life carried on for decades with no reason to doubt her US citizenship.
However in 2012, her world came crashing down.
Discovering Non-Citizen Status
She lost her government identification and needed a replacement.
But when she visited her government agency, Shirley was informed she needed to prove her status 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 US adopted individuals are without citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.
Numerous adoptees have been deported to their countries of birth in the past decade, as reported by advocacy groups.
Additional Account
A different individual, who requested anonymity for fear of attracting the attention of authorities, was adopted by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was just a toddler.
"I adapted to my life, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she states.
Legal Background
For decades, international adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not assure US citizenship.
The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.
Current Fears
Those fears for adoptees and their relatives have risen even further following recent political changes.
Adoptee rights groups say they have been overwhelmed by assistance inquiries and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.
"Following political outcomes came in, it began increasing significantly with requests for help," said a legal professional specializing in 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 merely documentation issues," she said.
"I frequently explain that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she said.
"From my perspective currently, I feel stateless."
Possible Resolution
Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for decades, legal experts believe it is just a case of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.
"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 an attorney.
Final Plea
The adoptee hopes she could get the US president 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 infants and young children. Just please hear our story and honor with the commitment that the United States made to every of the children that got on those planes: US nationality."
