General Discussion

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)

35. If that person maintained U.S. citizenship all those years,

Mon Oct 15, 2012, 03:51 PM

Oct 2012

then yes, they are still an American citizen eligible to run for office. Period. Whether or not that person could realistically be elected is a totally different question.

Someone born in Puerto Rico is a U.S. citizen. Children of that person are also U.S. citizens. Legal dual citizenship (I'm assuming here one is U.S. citizenship) does not preclude running for office.

I have no idea what Mexico requires for one to become a citizen.

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I'm not sure George Romney was a US Citizen after all. [View all] Barack_America Oct 2012 OP

Interesting questions. Very interested in hearing what all the immigration scholars think. bluerum Oct 2012 #1

Me too. Barack_America Oct 2012 #2

At the time Utah was a Territory of the US atreides1 Oct 2012 #3

When was that decided (birth in territory = US citizenship)? Did it apply to Utah? Barack_America Oct 2012 #6

Yes, it always has jberryhill Oct 2012 #55

question came up about Goldwater SCantiGOP Oct 2012 #25

Do you have a link to that? Barack_America Oct 2012 #41

I Understand That Children of US Citizens Living Abroad are US Citizens On the Road Oct 2012 #4

I don't know if it's been tested, but I doubt there's a statuatory limit. Bucky Oct 2012 #13

It depends on the naturalization laws at the time unc70 Oct 2012 #22

Presumably having been born in Utah SheilaT Oct 2012 #5

No bearing on anything, but interesting history. Barack_America Oct 2012 #10

George Romney withdrew in 1968 before questions about his status could be resolved. KurtNYC Oct 2012 #20

If that person maintained U.S. citizenship all those years, SheilaT Oct 2012 #35

The Constitution makes special provisions for people born before it was adopted starroute Oct 2012 #28

YOu're absolutely correct however it does bring up an interesting point LynneSin Oct 2012 #29

And the possibility that his own father would have been one Mitt says should "self deport" Barack_America Oct 2012 #50

How would the early Presidents not been eligible under the Constitution? LiberalFighter Oct 2012 #47

That's my point. I perhaps worded it clumsily. SheilaT Oct 2012 #59

Key passage from the "US Citizenship and Immigration Services" website.... OldDem2012 Oct 2012 #7

I can't find that Utah was considered a "certain territory". Barack_America Oct 2012 #11

The Mexican Cession of 1848.... OldDem2012 Oct 2012 #23

Looking through the constitution.... Barack_America Oct 2012 #26

What constitution has those places in it? sl8 Oct 2012 #45

Sorry, yes. My typo. Barack_America Oct 2012 #48

Barry Goldwater was born in Arizona when it was a territory. former9thward Oct 2012 #8

Would he have been considered someone who renounced his citizenship joeybee12 Oct 2012 #9

Apparently you used to lose your citizenship by voting in foreign elections. Barack_America Oct 2012 #12

I bet he did at some point... joeybee12 Oct 2012 #40

If Mitt Romney was born in the US he's an American Citizen. lunatica Oct 2012 #14

does that make Mitt an "anchor baby" ? KurtNYC Oct 2012 #15

Of course he is. I never suggested he wasn't. Barack_America Oct 2012 #17

THese discussions are NOT about Mitt's citizenship - we know he's a US Citizen LynneSin Oct 2012 #30

This is a good question for Orly Taitz! Sancho Oct 2012 #16

Oh good lord... FreeJoe Oct 2012 #18

??? Mitt is undoubtedly a US citizen. Barack_America Oct 2012 #19

George Romney not natural born unc70 Oct 2012 #24

Settled law makes clear that there are only two choices: truebluegreen Oct 2012 #32

Did George Romney immigrate? No. jberryhill Oct 2012 #57

Many claim born abroad to citizen as NB unc70 Oct 2012 #61

Yeah, both Mittsy and Annie are anchor babies. nt valerief Oct 2012 #21

Citizens born abroad are people who have one parent who is an American citizen JDPriestly Oct 2012 #27

Utah was a U.S. territory whose citizens did have voting rights cali Oct 2012 #31

Actually, as a polygamist, Mitt's ggrandfather did not have voting rights. Barack_America Oct 2012 #34

well then. continue on with your flavor of birtherism. cali Oct 2012 #36

Oh please, I'm interested in a question of constitutional law. Barack_America Oct 2012 #37

How odd. I read all of this just now & thought it was about tagging Willard as an anchor baby. Indpndnt Oct 2012 #44

Mitt is a citizen. His parents were citizens. His grandparents were citizens. Stinky The Clown Oct 2012 #33

You're hung up on statehood. dems_rightnow Oct 2012 #38

Thank you so much for that! Barack_America Oct 2012 #46

George isn't running for President! GeorgeGist Oct 2012 #39

I realize that. And Mitt Romney is undoubtedly a US citizen. Barack_America Oct 2012 #42

They were born on US Territory nadinbrzezinski Oct 2012 #43

the parents were born in the Us so they were citizens, however treestar Oct 2012 #49

US territories are considered US soil LTR Oct 2012 #51

Constitution silent on born abroad to citizens unc70 Oct 2012 #54

Rmoney should have to explain publicly how he justifies claiming US citizenship. nt SDjack Oct 2012 #52

What does Utah statehood have to do with it? jberryhill Oct 2012 #53

I couldn't find out when that was decided. My google-fu was weak. Barack_America Oct 2012 #56

What about American Samoa? sl8 Oct 2012 #62

He wasn't. The family never re-applied for the citizenship they renounced, then re-entered the WinkyDink Oct 2012 #58

The answer to that is that Utah was a US territory Spider Jerusalem Oct 2012 #60