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Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was adopted by a American couple back in 1966.

Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her birth father served of the US armed forces, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.

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

After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a US couple, who took her back to the Lone Star State.

An American Upbringing

Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many American youths.

"I moved and breathed and got in trouble similar to other American teenagers of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls.

She became a mother, got married and became a music instructor.

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

But then in 2012, her world came crashing down.

Citizenship Crisis

She lost her government identification and required a new one.

However when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she had to demonstrate her legal standing in the country.

"I had an emotional collapse upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.

Widespread Problem

This situation isn't unique. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.

Numerous adoptees have been removed to their countries of birth in the past decade, according to advocacy groups.

Another Story

Another woman, who requested anonymity for concern about attracting the attention of government officials, was adopted by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was just a toddler.

"I settled into my existence, always understanding that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she says.

Legal Background

Over many years, international adoptions approved by legal systems did not assure US citizenship.

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

Current Fears

Those fears for adopted individuals and their relatives have increased substantially since 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 were announced, it started to really cascade with requests for help," said a legal professional specializing in adoptee cases.

Stateless Feeling

"At the end of the day, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that you're legally here and it's merely documentation issues," she said.

"I always tell people 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

Despite adoptees 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 parents who were American nationals at the moment of their birth," commented a legal advocate.

Final Plea

The adoptee hopes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and similar individuals could explain their stories.

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

"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. 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."