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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I'm a Canadian (and I'm glad to hear this Cruz guy renounced our country), but if this guy can possibly run for president, how in the world could there possibly have been any question that Obama qualifies? Basically the same situation as Obama (father citizen of another country, mother citizen of the US) but at least Obama was born in Hawaii. Cruz wasn't even born in the US, but I can guarantee you that the Tea Party clan won't make a stink about his citizenship. This really demonstrates that the further right you are politically, the greater the double standard that applies. I have to tell you, I really am glad the Tea Party and Cruz are in the US, they are such hypocrites and don't believe in logic or truth, just their clan.
Keep him...but don't think he can come back and retire in Canada and think he can enjoy the benefits of living in Canada...keep him and your gun laws...just sayin!
You can take a senator from Canada but you can't take Canada from the senator
One step closer to restoring monarchy
Bob C., can you cite the law that gave Cruz automatic U.S. citizenship at birth?
RudyNYC - I have read your previous posts, and they are all wrong. You also need to read case law (i.e. SCOTUS rulings).
You do not have to renounce citizenship to other countries before becoming a U.S. citizen. My wife just became a naturalized U.S. dual citizen herself without having to renounce her other citizenship. My kids are all dual-citizens, but only hold U.S. passports.
The U.S. does not recognize dual citizenship, which means that they IGNORE the other citizenship(s) you may have. So if you are a dual citizen, and there is a draft, you have to serve in the U.S. military. You can't use the excuse that you're a citizen of another country to dodge the draft. The same is probably true for the OTHER country as well, so young dual-citizen men have to be careful. Many dual-citizens hold top secret security clearances as well. The form just asks if you are a U.S. citizen - it doesn't ask if you're also a citizen of any other countries. You can even vote in both countries.
When dual citizens travel, they bring both passports but only use one at a time. They use the passport of the country they are in, except at the airline counter. There they use the passport of the country they are flying to - so show that can get into that country.
Good, we don't want him or his politics here anyway.
Let's here from the real expert on this, issue – whats-his-name, that businessman with the bad comb-over and worse TV show.
If he looses in US he cans still run for president of Cuba
Didn't he recently bring up Obama's citizenship again? My God, Perry and Cruz – I'm ashamed to be a Texan!
How come nobody had a problem with Ted Cruz's birth certificate? It's not even a United States issue; probably the first Canadian one most Americans have ever seen, and no one's asking for the long form?
I love America, we prove over and over again, we do not care about the facts, only what party the person is affiliated with. We would attack a baby if it was wearing the wrong political parties button on its diaper.
He doesn't like hockey and drinking beer to excess, so Canada doesn't want him anyway.
Boy you can hear a pin drop. Where are you GOP/TP people. Cat got your tongues? We knew it was about race all along. Your puppet Cruz just confirmed it for all the world to see. You only picked him or he you because both of you have those racist thoughts. Imagine that, can dish it out but can't take it when you are caught with your pants down. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I would LOVE to hear Donald Trump's spin on Cruz-Birtherism. Where are you Donald!?!
Also Tea Party Klan , Cruz is not pure white.
What an idiot. Ted Cruz has inspired me to have all my kids in Canada so I can ensure they can live in a free country and have healthcare.
hahaha poor ted cruz, he and the birthers lose all credibility and worse when they talk of govt shutdowns all were gonna think about is it this an attack from a foreign citizen (cruz) he has lost all credibility with the texans who voted for him and Americans in general, he is TOAST!
Calling all birthers...Calling all Birthers!
Nowhere to be found because Cruz is not Black!
The collective sigh of relief from our neighbors and friends to the north, was almost deafening. What do we have to do as Americans to get the same treatment? I know he is all for secession from the Union.. we can only hope.
While technically Cruz could run for Parliament, he would have no chance of getting elected, and it's not only because his idiocy and views are repulsive to a huge majority of Canadians. During our last federal election, the liberal party chose a guy who had spent many years teaching at Harvard immediately before coming to Canada to run. We're still baffled as to why the party chose him. Maybe they were on drugs for a very long time? He was immediately written off as too American and he led the party to their worst defeat in their history.
I believe it was Canada that renounced Cruz......
Sorry, Cruz you were not born in the United State of America,which forbids you from running a president. Go back to school and take a US history.
"He's a natural-born U.S. citizen, so he can run for President. He's a natural-born Canadian, so he can also run for Parliament. He's a natural-born Cuban, and can serve in the their military."
He's a natural born retard who is auditioning for the village idiot every time he opens his mouth and speaks.
Canada wins! Romney was right: self-deportation does work.