Hey, did you know my Repub cousin can vote, but her children can

[The Backlash Cometh]

never get drafted? Isn't that odd? She's an American, her husband isn't. Their children were born in a foreign country and I don't think she nationalized them as U.S. citizens. So, doesn't that mean they can avoid the draft?

[benburch]

1. Nope...

Children born to a US Citizen are US Citizens no matter where they are born.

They can be drafted, and likely will be.

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. Oh, goodie. Can't wait to tell her.

[NYC]

2. Do they have dual citizenship?

Since they were born to an American mother in a foreign country, I think they may automatically have American citizenship. I'm not positive, though.

[Liberal In Texas]

5. Dual citizenship

I don't believe the U.S. recognizes dual citizenships. Either you are or you aren't.

[Feathered Fish]

8. With us or against us...

[Ganja Ninja]

9. I think they give you until your 18.

Then they make you choose.

[NYC]

12. I know you can have Canadian & American citizenship.

A friend of mine has. I don't know all the circumstances and requirements, though. I know his circumstances, but they were bizarre.

[Liberal In Texas]

14. I've also know some people who have 2 passports

Case in point I'm thinking of. An old girlfriend was born in England to American military service man and his wife stationed there.

She had a UK passport and a US one. However, the US did not recognize the UK one being valid, although the UK recognized both.

[NuttyFluffers]

15. Countries don't really 'recognizes' dual citizenship. ;)

it's a .... technicality. someone just ends up having citizenship in two countries... which is usually against the rules of most countries, and technically is against the rules of the USA.

we say dual citizenship to make our lives easier and to understand the situation. but in reality each state considers their citizens to solely belong to them, at least on the face of things. it's a 'nudge, nudge, wink, wink' sort of thing between nations.

you can get some advantages... but you can also get some problems. 2 countries making demands on 1 individual can be in conflict at times, and if not in conflict... one could acquiesce out of ease, which means the country in question might rather let the children be drafted rather than fight for them. ;) never take for granted citizenship status, you end up caught in the grand game when you play with things you aren't well familiar with. it sucks being a pawn caught between major powers, by the way...

[Liberal In Texas]

16. Near as I can tell with a quick google search...

Canada and the UK both recognize dual-citizenship.

http://www.americanexpats.co.uk/dual.htm

http://www.richw.org/dualcit/

[Southpaw Bookworm]

22. Not sure

A good friend holds a Latvian passport though she is a U.S. citizen as well. (Her mother was a Latvian immigrant who came to this country fleeing the Russians.) It came up in conversation after the 2004 election -- she joked about making use of her Latvian citizenship in case the fundies completely take over. As a biracial, bisexual woman, she says she's hit the trifecta as an enemy of the state.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. No. I don't think it is automatic. I was born to an American father,

but had to go through the naturalization process as a young adult.

[NYC]

10. Is it perhaps automatic if you are born to an American mother?

It was "mother" that stuck in my mind, not parent.

[Walt Starr]

3. Nope, even foreign nationals in the United States under a work Visa

can be drafted.

There's no ecaping the BFEE if they want your ass.

[NYC]

11. A foreigner on a work visa can be drafted?

That's scary. I wonder if other countries do that?

[Walt Starr]

13. I don't know

During war time, however, foreign nationals must register and can be drafter.

[theboss]

4. They are citizens

Any child born to a US citizen is a citizen.

[ClassicDem]

17. Depends...

There are a couple of possibilities that could keep these kids from being drafted.

First thing to look at is where they live, if the children are still in the foreign country of birth it would be difficult if not impossible for the US Government to get their hands on the kids. The US Government would have to make a request to the Government of the Foreign Country to ship the kids home and since 99% of the world disagrees with this war I would say the answer will be no.

Second, did the mother fill out the appropriate paperwork for the US Government so the children would be recognized as citizens of the US, although all children born to US citizens are given citizenship you still need to go through the motions and fill out the paperwork, no paperwork no citizenship. There was a Teenager in the Northwest who was deported to Canada because his mother forgot to fill out the paperwork when he was born, his father was Canadian and the kid was born in Canada, it was later straightened out but it was an ordeal.

Children born to US citizens and foreign nationals are given dual citizenship as long as the correct paperwork is filled out. This dual citizenship lasts until the child turns 18 at which point they will make the decision on which country they wish to stay in.

My children have dual citizenship in the US and Japan for two reasons, one ease of travel, we go to Japan 1 to 2 times a years and two passports makes travel a breeze. The second reason is if the Government gets too tyrannical my children and wife are on the next flight out while I sell the house, business and property before sending the money overseas and getting out myself.

[Liberal In Texas]

18. Welcome to DU

he said as a pretty newbie himself.

[The Backlash Cometh]

19. Thank you, Classic Dem, for a well written first post!

And welcome to DU.

[cap]

20. it depends on where their future lies...

if it lies in the US and they want Pell Grants and scholarships and the right to work in the US, they will become American citizens who are subject to the draft.

If it lies abroad, they won't necessarily be eligible for permanent residency and green cards... BTW, they do draft green card holders.

You cant have it both ways.

[fasttense]

21. Green card holders are perfectly legal and

can be recruited into the military and be drafted into the Army.