🔗 Share this article American Children Adopted Abroad Facing Anxiety of Deportation to Forgotten Countries of Origin An adoptee, pictured on the right, and another adoptee choosing anonymity One adoptee was just a year old when she was adopted by a US family during 1966. Born in South Korea, 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 nicest way I can put it," says Shirley, now 61. After around a year, Shirley was adopted by a American pair, who took her back to Texas. An American Upbringing She was raised experiencing a lifestyle similar to that of many American youths. "I lived and breathed and found mischief like many American teenagers during the eighties. I'm a child of the 80s," Shirley recalls. She experienced an upbringing much like that of many American children She became a mother, entered matrimony and worked as a piano teacher. Her life progressed for decades with little cause to doubt her American identity. But then in 2012, her world came crashing down. Citizenship Crisis She lost her Social Security card and needed a replacement. But when she went to her local Social Security office, Shirley was told she had to demonstrate her legal standing in the country. "I experienced a little mental breakdown upon discovering I lacked citizenship," she explains. A Common Issue This situation isn't unique. Estimates of how many US adopted individuals lack citizenship range from 18,000 to 75,000. Numerous adopted individuals have been deported to their countries of birth in recent years, as reported by adoptee rights organizations. An adoptee from Iran, who requested to not be identified Another Story A different individual, preferring to remain unnamed for concern about drawing notice of authorities, was taken in by an US pair from Iran in 1973 when she was two years old. "I settled into my life, consistently believing that I was an American citizen. That was what I learned. I still believe that today," she says. Historical Context For decades, intercountry adoptions approved by courts and government agencies did not automatically guarantee US citizenship. The Children's Citizenship Law of 2000 made some headway in addressing this issue, providing immediate citizenship to children adopted from abroad. Many of the adoptees are concerned about enforcement actions despite arriving in the US as children Current Fears Those fears for adopted individuals and their relatives have risen even further following shifts in administration. Advocacy organizations say they have been overwhelmed by assistance inquiries and some adoptees have disappeared from public view. "When the election results were announced, it began increasing significantly with pleas for assistance," noted a legal professional working with adoptee cases. Lacking National Identity "At the end of the day, authorities aren't concerned about your back story. They don't care that your presence is lawful and it's merely documentation issues," she expressed. "I frequently explain that one document of paper has fundamentally damaged my life," she stated. "As far as I'm concerned currently, I feel stateless." The adoptee, currently elderly, urges the president to provide her, and others like her, legal status Potential Solution Despite adoptees being left in limbo for decades, attorneys believe it is just a case of political will that should gain bipartisan support from all political parties. "This ought to be a straightforward fix: adopted children should be treated the same as their natural brothers and sisters of guardians who were American nationals at the time of birth," commented an attorney. Final Plea Shirley wishes she could get the US president for a discussion, so she and others like her could share their experiences. "I would ask him to show understanding. We aren't undocumented immigrants," she said. "We were placed on planes as little itty-bitty babies. Please listen to our story and please follow through with the commitment that America gave each one of the babies that got on those planes: American citizenship."