US Children Adopted Abroad Facing Anxiety of Deportation to Unfamiliar Countries of Origin

Shirley Chung was just a year old when she was taken in by a American couple during 1966.

Hailing from the Korean peninsula, her biological father was a member of the US armed forces, who returned home shortly after Shirley was born.

"He left us behind, is the kindest phrasing I can put it," states Shirley, now 61.

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

An American Upbringing

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 belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls.

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

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

But then in 2012, her life was turned upside down.

Discovering Non-Citizen Status

She misplaced her government identification and needed a replacement.

But when she visited her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she needed to prove her legal standing in the country.

"I experienced a little mental breakdown upon discovering I wasn't a citizen," she says.

A Common Issue

This situation isn't unique. Approximations of how many US adopted individuals are without citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands.

Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their countries of birth in recent years, according to advocacy groups.

Additional Account

Another woman, who requested anonymity for concern about drawing notice of government officials, was taken in by an US pair from the Middle East in 1973 when she was two years old.

"I adapted to my life, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That's what I was told. I still believe that today," she states.

Historical Context

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

The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in rectifying this, granting automatic citizenship to international adoptees.

Current Fears

These concerns for adoptees and their families have increased substantially since recent political changes.

Advocacy organizations say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have disappeared from public view.

"When the election results were announced, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," said an attorney working with adoption law.

Stateless Feeling

"At the end of the day, they don't care about your back story. They're not interested that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed.

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

"From my perspective right now, I feel without a country."

Possible Resolution

Although these individuals being left in limbo for decades, legal experts believe it is just a case of political will that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum.

"It should be an uncomplicated solution: 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

The adoptee hopes 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're not illegal aliens," she said.

"We were put on planes as infants and young children. Please listen to our accounts and honor with the promise that the United States gave each one of the children that got on those planes: American citizenship."