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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Sorry gop. Not good enough. So what if he has an American mother, so does our Presodent. He was born in another country. President Obama was born in the United States and you fools have tried to say that because his father was not an American, HE was not American either. You fools cannot waive the rules to suit yourselves!
i would like to see texas and the rest of the Tea clowns from that state to sucede from the union.
Good ridence
I just won't be convinced until he mails every American citizen some kind of proof he is actually American. Clearly our government will just let any Tom, dick, or Harry from some foreign country run ours!
FYI for seemingly US hyper-patriots, being born in any country, of US parents or not, makes you a citizen of that country, period. That you also have American parents makes you a dual citizen. Denounce away, you're still a dual citizen. It's a fact of birth.
That still does not make him a natural born US citizen. You have to be born ON US SOIL, regardless of your parental citizenship status, to be "natural born."
Good...people like Cruz and their political and ideological 'beliefs', are not wanted here!
All for show...what an idiot
And there was much rejoicing in Canada.
Why do people and the media make such a big deal of such an insignificant thing like this?
Does it affect the way he feels about his country, or how he does his job? Likely not.
All this is, is a distraction that will destroy yet another person.
Embarrassing. Sorry Canada
Speaking for many millions of Canadians, that Ted Cruz is no longer one of us is a relief, and a cause of celebration. You can have him to yourselves.
"To our knowledge, he never had Canadian citizenship so there is nothing to renounce." LMFAO!!!
This has got to be the stupidest thing I've read so far today.
And the celebrations start in Canada .....
So he's an anchor baby?
Obama born IN America and his mother was a US citizen. Cruz born outside of America and his mother was a US citizen. Not a peep from ANY birthers. Funny how it's all so simple, when hate isn't involved.
LOL..... does the GOP really think that this guy is presidential material? It does not matter what his citizenship is or where he was born; he has zero chance of becoming President of the USA because of his extreme right wing ideology.
Way to early to be going into this. So much smoke and mirrors.
How can he be thought of as being natural born American if he was born in Canada and lived there for 4 years? Canadian Citizenship requirements state "your provincial or territorial birth certificates should be sufficient to prove your Canadian citizenship". I see a legal challenge in the air if Senator Cruz gets closer to the White House.
BTW If his father was born in Cuba then could he not also apply for Cuban citizenship?
Bring on the throwback!
Oh where, oh where, did the Birthers go?
Suddenly silent. What to say, they don't know.
If you are born someplace, live there for 4 years, and then leave.... you are from that place. Beware of politicians who will do or say anything to get elected.
This looks fishy, can I see the long form birth certificate?????
Um, yes. Good job? Seems like a no brainer...no news.
Corks are popping all over Canada today!!!
It seemed the best course for Cruz, since Canada would, most likely deport him for his Fascist ideology in the near future anyway.
It would be nice if Obama did the same!