Should the Republican Party Bow Out of 2016?

[Dr Strangelove]

I've forgotten, how long before Ben gets to take the test to become a citizen of the Unitied States? Maybe we should wait until the INS tells him he's wrong.

[MikeH]

I assume the official government citizenship website is a good enough source?

[MikeH]

You are a wrong, of course, Ben.

http://www.uscis.gov/us-citizenship

If you meet certain requirements, you may become a U.S. citizen either at birth or after birth.

To become a citizen at birth, you must:

Have been born in the United States or certain territories or outlying possessions of the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; OR
had a parent or parents who were citizens at the time of your birth (if you were born abroad) and meet other requirements

Naturalization only occurs if you don't become a citizen at birth. It's pretty clear.

[Ben Kenobi]

According the the law of the United States, Cruz is a Natural Born Citizen of this country. The law doesn't care about the existence of Canada.

According to the law of the United States - he's a naturalized citizen. That law cited above, gives the father's nationality priority over the mother, meaning that Cruz is considered Cuban first, American second. When you take everything into account, it's Canadian, Cuban and then American.

But then, I could rely on a BAM to carry the day.

[DinoDoc]

No-one cares about the existence of Canada.

It's a stealth nation.

[MikeH]

No-one cares about the existence of Canada.

[DinoDoc]

According the the law of the United States, Cruz is a Natural Born Citizen of this country. The law doesn't care about the existence of Canada.

[Ben Kenobi]

One cannot be a Natural Born citizen of more than one country.

the children of citizens

Also, note the plural. Cruz is not the child of citizens.

I know you have issues with plural nouns, DD.

[DinoDoc]

He is a Natural Born citizen - of Canada. He's eligible to run as Prime Minister.

One cannot be a Natural Born citizen of more than one place. Ergo - he's not a NBC of the United States.

"the children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond Sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born Citizens".

[Ben Kenobi]

I'm not even arguing Cruz would win the Presidency. I'm just trying to correct the error you make by claiming that he is ineligible to run.

He is a Natural Born citizen - of Canada. He's eligible to run as Prime Minister.

One cannot be a Natural Born citizen of more than one place. Ergo - he's not a NBC of the United States. Unless of course the US annexes Canada and we all get grandfathered in via the 14th.

[DinoDoc]

I'm not even arguing Cruz would win the Presidency. I'm just trying to correct the error you make by claiming that he is ineligible to run.

[DinoDoc]

The fact that the act is called the Naturalization act, making them Naturalized citizens?

"the children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond Sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born Citizens".

[Ben Kenobi]

"the children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond Sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born Citizens".

The fact that the act is called the Naturalization act, making them Naturalized citizens?

Are you now going to claim that Cruz's mother was not an American citizen as well?

Are you going to claim that his father was an American citizen when Cruz was born in Canada, again? You said he was born to American citizens, plural. Why would anyone trust you on this topic when you get basic facts wrong?

[DinoDoc]

This makes them Naturalized citizens, same as anyone born abroad who comes to the US and gains citizenship.

FFS, Ben, How much clearer does the law have to be?:
"the children of citizens of the United States that may be born beyond Sea, or out of the limits of the United States, shall be considered as natural born Citizens".

Are you now going to claim that Cruz's mother was not an American citizen as well?

[Ben Kenobi]

The Constitution does not define the phrase natural-born citizen

Which is why the Constitution explicitly exempts those born abroad prior to the enactment of the Constitution. Logic suggests that only those born on American soil are considered natural born citizens of the united states.

Also, wikipedia is not a source.