🔗 Share this article American Adoptees Facing Anxiety of Deportation to Forgotten Countries of Origin An adoptee, right, along with a fellow adoptee who requested anonymity Shirley Chung was only twelve months when she was adopted by a US family back in 1966. Born in the Korean peninsula, her birth father served of the US armed forces, who went back soon after Shirley was born. "He left us behind, is the nicest way I can put it," says Shirley, now 61. After around a year, Shirley was welcomed into the home of a American pair, who brought her to the Lone Star State. Growing Up American Shirley grew up experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many young Americans. "I lived and breathed and found mischief like many American teenagers of the 80s. I belong of the 80s," Shirley recalls. Shirley had a childhood much like that of many American children Shirley had children, got married and became a music instructor. Her life progressed for decades with little cause to question her US citizenship. However in 2012, her world came crashing down. Discovering Non-Citizen Status She lost her Social Security card and required a new one. However when she went to her government agency, Shirley was told she needed to prove her status in the country. "I experienced an emotional collapse after finding out I lacked citizenship," she explains. Widespread Problem This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from thousands to tens of thousands. Dozens adopted individuals have been deported to their nations of origin in the past decade, as reported by advocacy groups. An adoptee from Iran, who requested to not be identified Additional Account A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about drawing notice of authorities, was taken in by an American couple 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 continue to feel that today," she states. Historical Context For decades, intercountry adoptions approved by legal systems 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. Many of the adoptees are concerned about enforcement actions although they came in the US as minors Current Fears Those fears for adopted individuals and their families have increased substantially following recent political changes. Adoptee rights groups say they have been flooded with requests for help and certain individuals have gone into hiding. "Following political outcomes were announced, it started to really cascade with requests for help," said a legal professional working with adoptee cases. Lacking National Identity "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 expressed. "I frequently explain that one document of paper has essentially just ruined my life," she said. "From my perspective currently, I feel stateless." The adoptee, currently elderly, urges government leaders to help finally grant her, and similar individuals, legal status Potential Solution Although these individuals being in legal uncertainty for decades, legal experts believe it is just a case of legislative action that should gain bipartisan support from across the political spectrum. "It should be a straightforward fix: children through adoption should be equal to their biological siblings of guardians who were US citizens at the time of birth," said a legal advocate. Final Plea The adoptee hopes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and others like her could explain their stories. "I would request to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said. "We were placed on planes as infants and young children. Just please hear our accounts and please follow through with the commitment that the United States gave each one of the children that got on those planes: US nationality."