January 26, 2025

Introduction and purpose

Are you or have you ever been a U.S. citizen? It depends on the “facts and circumstances”

U.S. citizenship is unique. For many it’s the only citizenship worth renouncing (many U.S. citizens are forced to renounce U.S. citizenship). For others its the only citizenship worth having. For some U.S. citizenship is the only citizenship they have ever known. One way or the other, as pointed out by Amanda Frost (and others), U.S. citizenship has certainly been weaponized.

The Weaponization Of Citizenship: From “You Are NOT American” to “You ARE American”

My week …

This has been an interesting week. It began with President Trump’s EO creating barriers to the recognition of U.S. citizenship. It ended with a call from a panicked individual who had just been to a seminar where he was informed that his child (born outside the USA) was a U.S. citizen and therefore subject to U.S. taxation.

Interestingly both the Trump EO and the panicked American identify the same two questions.

Q. 1. What happens if your ENTITLEMENT to U.S. citizenship is based on the facts and circumstances of the life of your parent(s)?

Q. 2. What happens if the RECOGNITION of your U.S. citizenship is based on determinations of the facts and circumstances of the life of your parent(s)?

There is a difference between:

(1) Truth: whether one is a U.S. citizen (assuming that certain facts are established); and

(2) Proof: whether the facts that would make you a U.S. citizen can be proven.

Either scenario is the cause of potential anxiety.

Some people worry that they cannot prove they are a U.S. citizen.

Some people worry that they cannot prove they are NOT a U.S. citizen.

Although proof is different from truth, the truth of U.S. citizenship may NOT matter without the proof of U.S. citizenship!

Interestingly the Trump EO and the panicked American abroad trigger the same issues.

Part A – Some People Worry They CANNOT PROVE They Are U.S. Citizens
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