Documents reveal how Peter Thiel was granted New Zealand citizenship(theguardian.com)
theguardian.com
Documents reveal how Peter Thiel was granted New Zealand citizenship
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/feb/01/documents-reveal-how-peter-thiel-was-granted-new-zealand-citizenship
10 comments
Shalhoub(1)
The NYT article [1] about this says (para 2) that Thiel does have American citizenship.
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/business/peter-thiel-new-...
[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/01/business/peter-thiel-new-...
Then the USA should pull his citizenship. From the US State Department:
"However, a person who acquires a foreign nationality by applying for it may lose U.S. nationality. In order to lose U.S. nationality, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign nationality voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. nationality. Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct."
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal-considerati...
From other articles around the web, Thiel has no stated plans to be a permanent resident of NZ, unless the USA undergoes some change that forces him to leave and seek refuge in NZ. His intent is to have a country to flee to.
"However, a person who acquires a foreign nationality by applying for it may lose U.S. nationality. In order to lose U.S. nationality, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign nationality voluntarily, by free choice, and with the intention to give up U.S. nationality. Intent can be shown by the person's statements or conduct."
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal-considerati...
From other articles around the web, Thiel has no stated plans to be a permanent resident of NZ, unless the USA undergoes some change that forces him to leave and seek refuge in NZ. His intent is to have a country to flee to.
Then the USA should pull his citizenship.
That's possible, but only because Thiel was born out of the USA. Natural born citizens must voluntarily renounce their citizenship, it can't be "pulled" from them:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_Un...
For much of the country's history, voluntary acquisition or exercise of a foreign citizenship was considered sufficient cause for revocation of national citizenship. This concept was enshrined in a series of treaties between the United States and other countries (the Bancroft Treaties). However, the Supreme Court repudiated this concept in Afroyim v. Rusk (1967), as well as Vance v. Terrazas (1980), holding that the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment barred the Congress from revoking citizenship. However, Congress can revoke citizenship that it had previously granted to a person not born in the United States.
That's possible, but only because Thiel was born out of the USA. Natural born citizens must voluntarily renounce their citizenship, it can't be "pulled" from them:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_Un...
For much of the country's history, voluntary acquisition or exercise of a foreign citizenship was considered sufficient cause for revocation of national citizenship. This concept was enshrined in a series of treaties between the United States and other countries (the Bancroft Treaties). However, the Supreme Court repudiated this concept in Afroyim v. Rusk (1967), as well as Vance v. Terrazas (1980), holding that the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment barred the Congress from revoking citizenship. However, Congress can revoke citizenship that it had previously granted to a person not born in the United States.
I'm no fan of Thiel, but don't take revocation lightly. It's basically a life-destroying event if you're not fantastically wealthy. Being stateless is far worse than having citizenship even from a troubled nation, and your proposal would endanger anyone who enjoys (or wishes to enjoy) dual citizenship.
Also, the only relevant part of that quote is " and with the intention to give up U.S. nationality " - is there any reason to think this was his intent?
Disclosure - I may be biased because I would like to attain a new citizenship without necessarily giving up that of my home country.
Also, the only relevant part of that quote is " and with the intention to give up U.S. nationality " - is there any reason to think this was his intent?
Disclosure - I may be biased because I would like to attain a new citizenship without necessarily giving up that of my home country.
Wait, so which do you believe? Your first sentence contradicts the rest of your comment.
Anybody want to sue The Guardian? I know where you can get financial backing.
In either case, the fact he was invited to stand in front of the GOP and declare "America first!" while silently (and secretly) hedging his bet on another country shows you exactly what kind of person Thiel is.
And, since we're past that now, how is he allowed access to ANY part of the Trump administration at this point?