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It's time to allow naturalised Americans to run for president
Today, the distinction between newcomer and native is less relevant, especially as the relationship between citizen and state is being altered by the ease and speed of transportation and communication. Americans, both natural born or naturalised, can possess strong bonds with other countries as they can have multiple passports, international business interests and even foreign family relations.
While being born to American parents or growing up in America is likely to foster affinity for the country, the notion that one’s loyalty can presumptively be linked to the territory of one’s birth is antiquated. There is a whole cottage-industry of “birth tourism” for pregnant women who want to travel to America to give birth so that their children can be American citizens. If someone can be eligible for the presidency on the basis of being serendipitously born on US soil – an event which does not automatically instil loyalty to America – why should there be any reason to deny the same right to those who become citizens by their own choice?
Besides being obsolete, some nativists today even use the natural born clause in a way unintended by the Constitution’s framers. These nativists argue that naturalised citizens should be denied presidential eligibility because the majority of these current newcomers are from non-Western countries, with values that are inconsistent with the Western values that helped create America. Certainly, the Constitution’s Framers were British subjects and European values did shape America. But the Framers were not concerned about protecting European culture and values. If anything, they were concerned about preserving their newly created democratic political order from people who were culturally much like themselves, save for their political loyalties to Europe’s rulers.
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In addition to striking a blow against prejudice and potentially increasing the number and variety of presidential candidates, it would further empower voters. By simply letting them decide whether their fellow citizens – regardless of whether they are naturalised or natural born – are worthy of becoming president, it would make America a more inclusive democracy, at a time when many feel it is not.
While being born to American parents or growing up in America is likely to foster affinity for the country, the notion that one’s loyalty can presumptively be linked to the territory of one’s birth is antiquated. There is a whole cottage-industry of “birth tourism” for pregnant women who want to travel to America to give birth so that their children can be American citizens. If someone can be eligible for the presidency on the basis of being serendipitously born on US soil – an event which does not automatically instil loyalty to America – why should there be any reason to deny the same right to those who become citizens by their own choice?
Besides being obsolete, some nativists today even use the natural born clause in a way unintended by the Constitution’s framers. These nativists argue that naturalised citizens should be denied presidential eligibility because the majority of these current newcomers are from non-Western countries, with values that are inconsistent with the Western values that helped create America. Certainly, the Constitution’s Framers were British subjects and European values did shape America. But the Framers were not concerned about protecting European culture and values. If anything, they were concerned about preserving their newly created democratic political order from people who were culturally much like themselves, save for their political loyalties to Europe’s rulers.
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In addition to striking a blow against prejudice and potentially increasing the number and variety of presidential candidates, it would further empower voters. By simply letting them decide whether their fellow citizens – regardless of whether they are naturalised or natural born – are worthy of becoming president, it would make America a more inclusive democracy, at a time when many feel it is not.
[link:https://www.newstatesman.com/world/north-america/2019/03/it-s-time-allow-naturalised-americans-run-president|
Thoughts? In the UK if you are a naturalised citizen you can run as the leader of your party and if the party wins you would be PM, equally if you are a Commonwealth citizen.... in effect you could be the PM and not be a British citizen. Unlikely to happen but the rules are clear on this. They do not limit democracy based on the country of your birth... would that work in the US?
41 replies
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He was born in Austria.
No thanks. 
