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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As a Canadian I thank him for the renouncement of his citizenship. Will further strengthen our gene pool with Cruz out of the mix
Canada never cliamed you either. We're doing just fine without you in the picture.
Where is Donald Trump on this?
Hey, this guy is white, he's okay by me! Even if he wasn't born in this country and isn't technically a natural born US citizen. Why shouldn't he be president? Oh, he's super smart too, and totally not a clown!
-The Donald
We'll believe it when the formal paperwork is filed.
born in Canada? Sorry, not eligible to be the Commander in Chief. I don't think so at least. But my sources may be "birthers" so I may have to retract. 🙂
OK now what will he do about his Cuban Citizenship. His father was a Cuban citizen when he was born and under Cuban law if one parent is a Cuban ( much like US law) the child also has Cuban citizenship. At least you can't say he is a man without a country, and he is probably too old to be subject to the Cuban draft.
Imo, only US citizens born on US soil should ever be allowed to be president. That is for good reason. Because it prevents the possibility of someone being raised in another country who may develop loyalties to that nation from ever becoming in a position within the US govt to act upon those other loyalties.
In fact IMO, this should preclude anyone from even serving in Congress or key state department or security positions as well.
I was hoping Cruz was gonna renounce his inherent stupidity....
The fact that he apologized and reminded everyone that he had nothing against Canada, DEFINITELY makes him Canadian.
So? So there's hope for the 'dreamers' who are born here and have dual citizenship with Mexico through their parents citizenship can still be President of the US of A.
Cruz is like how the 'birthers' jumped on the bandwagon as to the citizenship of Obama; both having one parent a citizen and the other never establishing citizenship before either was born. At least Obama was never questioned as to having a DUAL citizenship with another country?
So what do the birthers think of this? From their perspective:
Obama born in a foreign country
Father born in a foreign country
Mother born in USA
Cruz born in a foreign country
Father born in a foreign country
Mother born in USA
So birthers would have to agree that Cruz is not eligible, right?
A vote for Ted Crus is like a vote for a reincarnated "Joe" McCarthy .
What is the GOP thinking moving farther to the right ?
um... if you were born in canada then you're a canadian by birth, ted.
Good. We don't want him anyway
Hey, a lot of hispanics have a birth parent born here and they don't qualify for automatic citizenship. What's the deal? This guy WASN'T BORN here! Hey Cruz, just because you have a spanish surname, you can be sure that the republicans won't get most of the latino vote.
Don't let the door hit you on your way out! See ya!
Proud Canadian
Ok, who again is this guy?
One of our sleeper agents might finally go all the way my fellow Canucks and implement comprehensive, efficient and affordable healthcare for all our American friends. The Manitoban Candidate.
Nothing wrong with dual cotizenship.
I am Canadian and I am pretty sure you cannot renounce your canadian citizenship. Citizenship is based on where you are born – you can't undue where you are born. He can say whatever he wants, but if he decided he wanted a Canadian passport, I am pretty sure he would be able to get it – because he was born in Canada.
to late damage done
Yeh!... sorry neighours... xxoo Canada
Hahaha!! Dems are going to have a field date with this should he ever run....however, it doesnt sound quite right that he never went throught the immigration process. May be he didnt have to back then but now you have to go through a process to establish your claim to US citizenship...someobe check into that...
How embarrassing for the birthers that this guy who is pandering to them has some REAL citizenship issues whereas President Obama was born in the U.S. and the only reason his status was questioned was because of the color of his skin and his non-traditional name.