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Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.

Hailing from 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 nicest way I can express it," states Shirley, currently in her sixties.

Approximately one year later, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who brought her to the Lone Star State.

An American Upbringing

She was raised living a life similar to those of most American youths.

"I moved and breathed and got in trouble similar to other American teenagers during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.

She became a mother, entered matrimony and became a music instructor.

Life carried on for many years with little cause to doubt her American identity.

However in 2012, her life was turned upside down.

Citizenship Crisis

She misplaced her Social Security card and needed a replacement.

However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.

"I had a little mental breakdown after finding out I lacked citizenship," she says.

Widespread Problem

This situation isn't unique. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.

Numerous adoptees have been deported to their nations of origin in the past decade, according to advocacy groups.

Another Story

Another woman, who requested anonymity for concern about attracting the attention of authorities, was taken in by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old.

"I settled into my life, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she says.

Legal Background

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

The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad.

Present Concerns

These concerns for adopted individuals and their relatives have increased substantially following recent political changes.

Adoptee rights groups say they have been overwhelmed by requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.

"When the election results came in, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," said an attorney working with adoptee cases.

Stateless Feeling

"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 always tell people this one single piece of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated.

"From my perspective right now, I feel stateless."

Potential Solution

Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for decades, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum.

"It should be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be treated the same as their biological siblings of guardians who were US citizens at the time of birth," said an attorney.

Final Plea

Shirley wishes she could get the US president into a room, so she and others like her could share their experiences.

"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she stated.

"We were placed on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our accounts and please follow through with the commitment that America gave each one of the babies that got on those planes: American citizenship."