🔗 Share this article

Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was taken in by a US family back in 1966.

Hailing from South Korea, her birth father was a member of the American military, who returned home soon after Shirley was born.

"He abandoned us, is the nicest way I can express it," says Shirley, currently in her sixties.

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

Growing Up American

Shirley grew up living a life comparable with that of many American youths.

"I moved and breathed and found mischief similar to other American teenagers of the 80s. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley says.

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

Her life progressed for decades with no reason to doubt her US citizenship.

However in 2012, her world came crashing down.

Citizenship Crisis

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

But when she went to her government agency, Shirley was informed she had to demonstrate her legal standing in the country.

"I had a little mental breakdown after finding out I wasn't a citizen," she says.

Widespread Problem

Shirley is not alone. Approximations of how many American adoptees are without citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000.

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

Additional Account

Another woman, who requested anonymity for fear of drawing notice of government officials, was taken in by an US pair 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 says.

Historical Context

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.

Present Concerns

Those fears for adopted individuals and their relatives have increased substantially following recent political changes.

Adoptee rights groups say they have been overwhelmed by assistance inquiries and some adoptees have gone into hiding.

"Following political outcomes were announced, it started to really cascade with requests for help," noted a legal professional specializing in adoption law.

Stateless Feeling

"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 always tell people that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said.

"From my perspective currently, I feel stateless."

Potential Solution

Despite adoptees being left in limbo for decades, legal experts believe it is simply a matter of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties.

"It should be an uncomplicated solution: adopted children should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were US citizens at the moment of their 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 stated.

"We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our accounts and honor with the commitment that the United States made to every of the children that were brought here: US nationality."