Cruz will renounce Canadian citizenship

[jberryhill]

70. Yes, I can - 8 USC § 1401

8 USC § 1401 is conveniently headed "Nationals and citizens of United States at birth" for the particularly dense, in fact.


The relevant paragraph is (g):

The following shall be nationals and citizens of the United States at birth:

...

(g) a person born outside the geographical limits of the United States and its outlying possessions of parents one of whom is an alien, and the other a citizen of the United States who, prior to the birth of such person, was physically present in the United States or its outlying possessions for a period or periods totaling not less than five years, at least two of which were after attaining the age of fourteen years:

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Regardless of the administrative practice for satisfying the statute, such a person is a citizen "AT BIRTH". That status is inherent, and the administrative process of obtaining a CRBA etc., is simply the administrative process. If one satisfies the conditions of the statute, then one is born a US citizen, and is not a naturalized citizen. Notice that the statute says "at birth" and not "when a CRBA is obtained."

There is no third category of citizenship, as further indicated by the text of the 14th Amendment. You are born one, or you become one. That's it.

If you have a contrary citation, please amuse.