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One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple during 1966.

Born in the Korean peninsula, her birth father served of the US armed forces, who went back shortly after Shirley was born.

"He abandoned us, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," says Shirley, now 61.

After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a US couple, who took her back to the Lone Star State.

Growing Up American

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

"I moved and breathed and got in trouble similar to other teenage Americans during the eighties. I belong of the 80s," Shirley says.

She became a mother, got married and became a piano teacher.

Life carried on for decades with little cause to question her US citizenship.

However in 2012, her life was turned upside down.

Discovering Non-Citizen Status

She lost her Social Security card and required a new one.

But when she visited her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she had to demonstrate her status in the country.

"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I lacked citizenship," 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 adopted individuals have been removed to their nations of origin in the past decade, as reported by advocacy groups.

Additional Account

Another woman, preferring to remain unnamed for fear of drawing notice of government officials, was adopted by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.

"I adapted to my existence, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I continue to feel that today," she says.

Legal Background

Over many years, intercountry adoptions approved by legal systems did not automatically guarantee US citizenship.

The Child Citizenship Act of 2000 created progress in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to international adoptees.

Present Concerns

These concerns for adopted individuals and their families have risen even further since recent political changes.

Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with assistance inquiries and some adoptees have disappeared from public view.

"Following political outcomes were announced, it started to really cascade with pleas for assistance," said an attorney working with adoptee cases.

Stateless Feeling

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

"As far as I'm concerned right now, I feel without a country."

Potential Solution

Despite adoptees being in legal uncertainty for many years, attorneys believe it is just a case of political will that should unite people from all political parties.

"It should be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were American nationals at the time of birth," commented a legal advocate.

Last Appeal

Shirley wishes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.

"I would ask him to please have some compassion. We're not illegal aliens," she said.

"We were placed on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Just please hear our accounts and please follow through with the promise that the United States gave each one of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."