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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So he can not only be the President of United States, Premier of Canada and but also President of Cuba all at the same time. Cool.
Yes, it does make him as Cuban as American. What he is is Canadian, no matter what he says.
rafael cruz....,resign from the senate right now.............was his mother born in the US of A or naturalized ?????????
Your loss Ted!
@ Craig – That would depend on Cuba's citizenship's laws, but yes, it is very likely. He can always renounce to it if that is the case.
Not that I'm a fan of Cruz (because I'm not), but it is possible to not know you still held dual citizenship. I was born in South Korea while my dad was stationed there through the Army. I held dual citizenship until I turned 18. In South Korea, along with many other countries I'm sure, a person who was born there but who has not lived in that country for more than 10 years and doesn't not apply to keep their dual citizenship AUTOMATICALLY loses their citizenship on their 18th birthday. So, that is at least a logical explanation as to why Cruz was unaware that he still currently holds dual citizenship.
What? He can't do that! Renouncing his citizenship is disrespectful to Her Majesty. Of course, it does prove he was a Canadian for many years; that should satisfy the Birthers although it does put a kink it their claims about Hawaii not being a legal state (i.e. one the original 13). Yep, Cruz is a "natural born" American just like all the other U.S. presidents during his lifetime.
Yes, he is cuban too by birth. Why renounce Canadian citizenship only now? Another opportunistic stunt?
No one even you could remove something, you have by birth
Where are all the birthers now? Why aren't they out clogging up the airwaves and courts concerning him? Oh that's right! He isn't black!!! How silly of me to think it was all about Obama's birthplace and not his color.
On behalf of all Canadians, we thank him and good riddance.
I'm less concerned with conservatives being questioned about their citizenship and far more concerned that we should be questioning their humanity in general!
In other words: you can claim to be whatever nationality you want....I still don't see you as human.
Why doesn't Cruz renounce his U.S. citizenship. That would be something we could all applaud.
If it was the other way around (us-canadian living in Alberta), I'll bet the IRS Would be after him for unfiled US tax returns.
I am sorry he wasn't born on US soil and moved to the US when he was 4. Yes, he is a US citizen because of his mother but he was born on foreign soil by a Cuban father. At least Obama was born on US (Hawaii) soil to a mother who was a US citizen even though his father was from Kenya. Mr. Cruz I'd challenge your legitimacy to run for President based on the fact you were born in Calgary and just now renounced your Canadian citizenship.
If he does decide to run for President of this country, I wonder if he will be endorsed by the Castro brothers.
Biggest mistake of your life, dude. Nothing better than travelling on a Canadian passport or being able to claim this nationality. But enjoy your US citizenship. Just sayin....
Now he needs to renounce his seat in Congress... Lucky Canada.....
and we renounce him
The headline (a CNN grabber) says he "renounces his citizenship".
The body of the article says "he said he will renounce his citizenship".
Seems to me he actually hasn't done anything yet, and the CNN headline is just the usual grabber that completely misstates what has actually taken place. "Will" is not the same as "Did".
I'm shocked, shocked, to know that CNN might mislead me.
LOL.....for a "freshman" senator, he sure is taking up all the oxygen in the news media. To be perfectly honest, I hope he continues to "stay the course" .......LOL .... This dude won't make it to another term. It took the one from Alaska & the one from Arkansas, spending their time / effort / money / rallys / ads / to support him, so he could get elected.....Just Sayin....
He is not a US citizen. His mother was not in Canada on US business they lived there. He should not even be a Senator.
Craig – It depends on Cuba's citizenship rules.
Actually, Canada is also in "America".
Cruz....he is only a trouble maker. I will never vote for him. He creates more problems than he solves. Americans are wasting tax payer money on his salary and benefits.