General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Ted Cruz Citizenship Timeline: Ted Cruz is Canadian at birth. Period. [View all]starroute
(12,977 posts)Note that it refers to "automatic acquisition of citizenship after birth." The implication is that the child is not a "natural born citizen' but becomes one automatically after they are born. It also seems to be saying that a child born abroad is not a US citizen unless and until they become a legal permanent resident while still under the age of 18 and in the custody of the US citizen parent.
This is the most recent version of the law, but I checked it out a couple of weeks ago and there are only minor differences from when Cruz was born.
http://www.uscis.gov/policymanual/HTML/PolicyManual-Volume12-PartH-Chapter4.html
Volume 12 Citizenship & Naturalization, Part H Children of U.S. Citizens
Chapter 4 Automatic Acquisition of Citizenship after Birth (INA 320)
A. General Requirements: Genetic, Legitimated, or Adopted Child Automatically Acquiring Citizenship after Birth
A child born outside of the United States automatically becomes a U.S. citizen when all of the following conditions have been met on or after February 27, 2001:
The child has at least one parent, including an adoptive parent who is a U.S. citizen by birth or through naturalization;
The child is under 18 years of age;
The child is an LPR; and
The child is residing in the United States in the legal and physical custody of the U.S. citizen parent.