Reply #15: This is not a "Jewish" issue, read article on dual citizenship

[IndianaGreen]

Number of dual citizens in U.S. soaring

Wednesday, May 15, 2002

By Jack Kelly, Post-Gazette National Security Writer

Dual citizenship is a worldwide phenomenon, but it is overwhelmingly an American issue, because most of the world's immigrants come here.

There are three ways for someone to become a citizen of the United States:

If you are born here, you are an American, no matter what the nationality of your parents.

If you are born abroad, but at least one of your parents is an American, you'll be considered an American, too (there are some exceptions).

Immigrants who have been granted permanent resident status may become naturalized citizens. Ordinarily, immigrants have to wait five years after receiving their green card to apply for citizenship. Spouses of U.S. citizens only have to wait three years.

The oath that naturalized citizens take requires them to "absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty." Old passports must be turned in. But nothing prevents a new citizen from going back to his or her country of origin and getting another. Americans who acquired multiple citizenship at birth are under no legal obligation to put America first.

The country in which a dual citizen resides is generally considered to have the greater claim on allegiance, but no international treaties govern dual citizenship. Each country decides how to treat dual citizens.

http://www.post-gazette.com/nation/20020515dual0515p4.asp