Why does the U.S. "reluctantly" accept dual citizenship?

Answer 1

My father was born in Sicily, however his mother was born in the U.S. and returned to Sicily as a small child. My father was a natural born citizen of Sicily, and because his mother was born here, he was also an U.S. citizen. Even if the U.S. only recognizes U.S. citizenship, the other country may accept both.
I myself can claim Sicilian citizenship, because it was the place of my fathers birth. But hey I am an American and proud of it, but its kind of cool to have a choice.

Answer 2

Dual citizenship has many advantages. In Iran, there is no American embassy. So if you only hold U.S. citizenship, and you're stuck in Iran, you are out of luck. However, if you also hold British citizenship, you could go to a British embassy and get the same kind of help.

The U.S. does indeed recognize dual citizenship, contrary to popular belief. Inside passport booklets, there's even a little section about it, stating that dual citizenship has both its advantages and disadvantages.

It is completely possible to be a citizen of more than one country and there is nothing wrong with it at all.

Answer 3

The framers of the constitution and all pertinent amendments were clear that there should be no dual citizenship. But their wording left enough ambiguity for the Supreme Court to read any way they chose.

In one decision, they upheld the framers' extraneously written intent. A few years later, another case with the same question (party to the suit had voted in a foreign election) decided the opposite.

The answer above about Israeli's is incorrect but probably stems from that second decision, which has remained law. In the second decision, a Jewish man went back to his native Israel and voted in a local election. Upon returning to the U.S. he was told his citizenship had been revoked. Thru the courts, to the Supreme Court who ruled that congress did not have the power to revoke citizenship despite having specifically written laws to maintain that power.

We need an amendment stating that the High Court must consider available, verifiable and pertinent writings of the Legislative branch clarifying the intent of laws they write and vote into law. Otherwise the court is an anti-American maverick. and it DEFINITELY already is.

By now, the Congress would likely have already passed a law allowing dual citizenship for countries with reciprocal allowances.

Answer 4

Who says it's reluctant?

Here is the official word:

"DUAL NATIONALITY
Dual nationality can occur as the result of a variety of circumstances. The automatic acquisition or retention of a foreign nationality, acquired, for example, by birth in a foreign country or through an alien parent, does not affect U.S. citizenship. It is prudent, however, to check with authorities of the other country to see if dual nationality is permissible under local law. Dual nationality can also occur when a person is naturalized in a foreign state without intending to relinquish U.S. nationality and is thereafter found not to have lost U.S. citizenship the individual consequently may possess dual nationality. While recognizing the existence of dual nationality and permitting Americans to have other nationalities, the U.S. Government does not endorse dual nationality as a matter of policy because of the problems which it may cause. Claims of other countries upon dual-national U.S. citizens often place them in situations where their obligation to one country are in conflict with the laws of the other. In addition, their dual nationality may hamper efforts to provide U.S. diplomatic and consular protection to them when they are abroad."

Answer 5

The Israel thing isn't true. Lots of people from other countries have dual citizenship. My friend has dual US/Scotland citizenship.
The only catch is that the other country must allow dual citizenship too.

Answer 6

The US's position used to be that it DIDN'T accept dual citizenship, thinking loyalties should not be divided. For example, whose side would you be on in a war? You could change loyalties but not 'share' loyalties.

Then the Supreme Court said that short of intentionally renouncing your citizenship (or a few very special circumstances) it could not be "lost".

Answer 7

The only country that the U.S.A. recognize to have dual citizenship with is Israel and the U.S.A. All others are not accepted.

Answer 8

The Empire must know who is in the side of imperialism and who is against imperialism. Things must be clear.