Ted Cruz renounces Canadian citizenship in statement
(CNN) – Lest any questions remain about Sen. Ted Cruz's national allegiance, the Texas Republican announced Monday he was renouncing his Canadian citizenship.
Cruz was born in Canada to an American mother and a Cuban father, and over the weekend he released his birth certificate to put to rest any questions about his background. In an analysis, the Dallas Morning News speculated Cruz – considered a potential candidate for the 2016 GOP presidential nomination – was a dual citizen of the United States and Canada.
"Because I was a U.S. citizen at birth, because I left Calgary when I was 4 and have lived my entire life since then in the U.S., and because I have never taken affirmative steps to claim Canadian citizenship, I assumed that was the end of the matter," Cruz wrote in his statement.
"Now the Dallas Morning News says that I may technically have dual citizenship. Assuming that is true, then sure, I will renounce any Canadian citizenship," he continued. "Nothing against Canada, but I'm an American by birth, and as a U.S. Senator, I believe I should be only an American."
As speculation ramps up about Cruz's political future, some have questioned his eligibility to become president. Most legal experts have said Cruz qualifies as a "natural born citizen," a requirement for the White House job, as stated in the Constitution.
In the Dallas Morning News Sunday, legal experts told the paper that Cruz is not only eligible for president in the United States, he's also technically a Canadian citizen and can even run for Parliament. Unless he renounces his citizenship there, he could also obtain a Canadian passport, according to the newspaper.
The senator's office, however, said Cruz has never embraced his legal rights in Canada.
"Senator Cruz became a U.S. citizen at birth, and he never had to go through a naturalization process after birth to become a U.S. citizen," spokeswoman Catherine Frazier told the newspaper. "To our knowledge, he never had Canadian citizenship, so there is nothing to renounce."
CNN's Jim Acosta, Ashley Killough and Kevin Liptak contributed to this report.
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hmmn interesting and well thought out
Cruz is a Manchurian candidate sent by Canada to destroy America. Canada wants no part of that idiot and is glad to get rid of him.
if cruz thinks he has a chance of being, let him think of George Romney for awhile.
Well, well, well. Why is there no huge outcry by the "birthers" concerning Cruz's citizenship? Obama was born to a U.S. citizen on U.S. soil, while Cruz was born in another country altogether. If the "birthers" claim Obama is not a citizen, then certainly Crazy Cruz is also not a citizen, and not eligible to become President. The hypocrisy on the part of these "birthers" and their fellow Republicans is blatant and shameful.
Ah, this one is good for jokes. Late night writers, you're welcome.
Ted II was born in Canada Crus decides to deal with the right wing "you are not an American" issue now. You don't think that Trump will work Cruz on that?
Good riddance.
And Canada rejoices! Cruz is just another rider on the far right side of the clown car, and it's in danger of tipping.
I would love to see a President Cruz..... of Cananda.
If he's renouncing his citizenship in Canad could I have it?
The interesting thing is, if this was reversed, he would owe the US income tax for all of the money he has made over $100K per year – with huge penalties if he did not file. I wonder if Canada does the same thing.
A child of a canadian (or any other nationality, for that matter) who happens to be born in the US but is raised elsewhere is a US citizen, and therefore subject to the US tax code, even if they have never accepted that citizenship or even understood that they were subject. The IRS can confiscate their money in the foreign country and in general make lives miserable for those folks.
I guess I am a little confused here Mr. Ted Cruz. How does having a Cuban father born to an American mother in a foreign country like Germany, Iran, Russia, Spain, Brazil, Cuba, Australia or Canada make you an American?????
Like many of the Mexican born residents this country deports every day splitting family's actually born here and US Citizens, unless you are born here or on American Soil or (EX: Military Bases and diplomatic embassy grounds) your mothers belly was not American Soil !!!!!!!!
Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
And Canadians celebrate.
Ted Cruz is incredible. I can't wait to vote for him in 2016.
(THROW UP)
he can renounce anything he wants. this ploy makes him no less a non natural born citizen to any birther who isnt a racist bigot.
I wouldn't vote for that clown if he was running for a dog catcher's job.
Desperate and pathetic.
But he still maybe a Cuban citizen. Just saying, did anyone raise concern about his allegiance to the Castro brothers?
The man's a monster and his father is even worse than him. The only way he gets elected President is if more than half of the voters suddenly forget the worst public figures in all of history and think "That Ted Cruz guy seems decent enough. Surely I wouldn't regret voting for him." (cue the doom music)
Good riddance to bad rubbish. He shall not be missed.
He's a secret communist.
It these economical times isn't it better to be a Canadian heh...
But was it the long-form certificate?
Wait until he gets sick – no more free healthcare for you!!!