This is a list of United States politicians who were born outside the present-day United States, its territories (the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa), and its outlying possessions. This list does not include politicians from the Philippines (such as Resident Commissioners of the Philippines), which was held under various forms of government as an American territory from 1898 to 1946 before becoming a sovereign country.
United States citizenship is required to serve in Congress, as President or Vice President, and in most state offices. The President and the Vice President must additionally be a 'natural-born citizen'. Foreign-born politicians may gain U.S. citizenship by means of birth (if one or both of their parents were citizens who met the requirements to transmit citizenship at birth), derivation (if they acquired citizenship from their parents after birth but before the age of 18), or naturalization (if they acquired citizenship by fulfilling the requirements of the naturalization process as established in the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952).
Senator | Country/Place of Birth | Citizenship by | Party | Serving Since | Position(s) Held |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Michael Bennet | India | Birth | Democratic | 2009 | U.S. Senator from Colorado; previously Superintendent of Denver Public Schools |
Ted Cruz | Canada | Birth | Republican | 2013 | U.S. Senator from Texas; previously Solicitor General of Texas |
Tammy Duckworth | Thailand | Birth | Democratic | 2017 | U.S. Senator from Illinois; previously U.S. Representative from Illinois, Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs |
Mazie Hirono | Japan | Naturalization | Democratic | 2013 | U.S. Senator from Hawaii; previously U.S. Representative from Hawaii and Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii |
Chris Van Hollen | Pakistan | Birth | Democratic | 2017 | U.S. Senator from Maryland; previously U.S. Representative from Maryland, Maryland State Senator, and Maryland State Delegate |
Cabinet Member | Place of Birth | Citizenship by | Party | Positions Held |
---|---|---|---|---|
Jennifer Granholm | Canada | Naturalization | Democratic | United States Secretary of Energy |
Alejandro Mayorkas | Cuba | Naturalization | Democratic | United States Secretary of Homeland Security |
Governor | Place of Birth | Citizenship by | Party | Serving Since | Position(s) Held |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Joe Lombardo | Japan | Birth | Republican | 2023 | Sheriff of Clark County and Governor of Nevada |
Official | Country/Place of Birth | Citizenship by | Party | Position(s) Held |
---|---|---|---|---|
Rob Bonta | Philippines | Birth | Democratic | Attorney General of California |
John F. King | Mexico | Birth | Republican | Insurance Commissioner of Georgia |
Sylvia Luke | South Korea | Naturalization | Democratic | Lieutenant Governor of Hawaii |
Sabina Matos | Dominican Republic | Naturalization | Democratic | Lieutenant Governor of Rhode Island |
Aruna Miller | India | Unknown | Democratic | Lieutenant Governor of Maryland |
Tregenza Roach | Saint Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla | Unknown | Democratic | Lieutenant Governor of the United States Virgin Islands |
Winsome Sears | Jamaica | Naturalization | Republican | Lieutenant Governor of Virginia |
Mayor | Place of Birth | Citizenship by | Party | Serving Since | Position(s) Held |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sokhary Chau | Cambodia | Naturalization | Democratic | 2022 | Mayor of Lowell, Massachusetts |
Wilmot Collins | Liberia | Naturalization | Independent, later Democratic | 2018 | Mayor of Helena, Montana |
Karen Goh | India | Naturalization | Republican | 2017 | Mayor of Bakersfield, California |
Glenn Jacobs | Spain | Birth | Republican | 2018 | Mayor of Knox County, Tennessee |
Esther Manheimer | Denmark | Birth | Democratic | 2013 | Mayor of Asheville, North Carolina |
Oscar Leeser | Mexico | Naturalization | Democratic | 2021 | Mayor of El Paso, Texas |
Governor | Country/Place of Birth | Citizenship by | Party | Position(s) Held |
---|---|---|---|---|
Richard Corcoran | Canada | Unknown | Republican | Education Commissioner of Florida |
Kris Kolluri | India | Unknown | Democratic | New Jersey Comissioner of Transportation |
William Q. Dallmeyer | Hanover | Unknown | Republican | State Treasurer of Missouri and Missouri State Representative |
Leo T. McCarthy | New Zealand | Unknown | Democratic | Lieutenant Governor of California; previously California State Assemblyman (Speaker) and San Francisco Supervisor |
Modern country | Number of politicians |
---|---|
Ireland | 68 |
United Kingdom | 47 |
Germany | 24 |
Canada | 22 |
Norway | 12 |
Cuba | 11 |
Mexico | 10 |
France | 9 |
Sweden | 9 |
Dominican Republic | 8 |
South Korea | 8 |
Denmark | 7 |
Haiti | 6 |
India | 5 |
Taiwan | 5 |
Hungary | 4 |
Italy | 4 |
Austria | 3 |
Czech Republic | 3 |
Japan | 3 |
Peru | 3 |
Poland | 3 |
Switzerland | 3 |
Trinidad and Tobago | 3 |
Colombia | 2 |
Jamaica | 2 |
Lithuania | 2 |
Portugal | 2 |
Spain | 2 |
Thailand | 2 |
Venezuela | 2 |
Vietnam | 2 |
Afghanistan | 1 |
Belgium | 1 |
Bulgaria | 1 |
Cambodia | 1 |
Cayman Islands | 1 |
Ecuador | 1 |
Estonia | 1 |
Greece | 1 |
Guatemala | 1 |
Iran | 1 |
Kenya | 1 |
Kosovo | 1 |
Netherlands | 1 |
New Zealand | 1 |
Pakistan | 1 |
Panama | 1 |
Philippines | 1 |
Romania | 1 |
Sint Maarten | 1 |
Slovenia | 1 |
Somalia | 1 |
St. Kitts and Nevis | 1 |
Turkey | 1 |
Ukraine | 1 |
Naturalization is the legal act or process by which a non-national of a country acquires the nationality of that country after birth. The definition of naturalization by the International Organization for Migration of the United Nations excludes citizenship that is automatically acquired or is acquired by declaration. Naturalization usually involves an application or a motion and approval by legal authorities. The rules of naturalization vary from country to country but typically include a promise to obey and uphold that country's laws and taking and subscribing to an oath of allegiance, and may specify other requirements such as a minimum legal residency and adequate knowledge of the national dominant language or culture. To counter multiple citizenship, some countries require that applicants for naturalization renounce any other citizenship that they currently hold, but whether this renunciation actually causes loss of original citizenship, as seen by the host country and by the original country, will depend on the laws of the countries involved.
Canadian nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of Canada. The primary law governing these regulations is the Citizenship Act, which came into force on February 15, 1977 and is applicable to all provinces and territories of Canada.
United States nationality law details the conditions in which a person holds United States nationality. In the United States, nationality is typically obtained through provisions in the U.S. Constitution, various laws, and international agreements. Citizenship is established as a right under the Constitution, not as a privilege, for those born in the United States under its jurisdiction and those who have been "naturalized". While domestic documents often use the words citizenship and nationality interchangeably, nationality is a broader term that refers to national identity and formal membership in a nation, while citizen is reserved to nationals who are have the recognized status of citizenship.
This article concerns the history of British nationality law.
The Naturalization Act of 1790 was a law of the United States Congress that set the first uniform rules for the granting of United States citizenship by naturalization. The law limited naturalization to "free White person(s) ... of good character", thus excluding Native Americans, indentured servants, enslaved people, free Africans, Pacific Islanders, and non-White Asians. This eliminated ambiguity on how to treat newcomers, given that free black people had been allowed citizenship at the state level in many states. In reading the Naturalization Act, the courts also associated whiteness with Christianity and thus excluded Muslim immigrants from citizenship until the decision Ex Parte Mohriez recognized citizenship for a Saudi Muslim man in 1944.
Austrian nationality law details the conditions by which an individual is a national of Austria. The primary law governing these requirements is the Nationality Law, which came into force on 31 July 1985.
Polish nationality law is based primarily on the principle of jus sanguinis. Children born to at least one Polish parent acquire Polish citizenship irrespective of place of birth. Besides other things, Polish citizenship entitles the person to a Polish passport.
Slovenian nationality law is based primarily on the principles of jus sanguinis, in that descent from a Slovenian parent is the primary basis for acquisition of Slovenian citizenship. However, although children born to foreign parents in Slovenia do not acquire Slovenian citizenship on the basis of birthplace, place of birth is relevant for determining whether the child of Slovenian parents acquires citizenship.
Status as a natural-born citizen of the United States is one of the eligibility requirements established in the United States Constitution for holding the office of president or vice president. This requirement was intended to protect the nation from foreign influence.
Japanese Nationality Law details the conditions by which a person holds nationality of Japan. The primary law governing nationality regulations is the 1950 Nationality Act.
United States citizenship can be acquired by birthright in two situations: by virtue of the person's birth within United States territory or because one or both of their parents was a U.S. citizen at the time of the person's birth. Birthright citizenship contrasts with citizenship acquired in other ways, for example by naturalization.
Philippine nationality law details the conditions by which a person is a national of the Philippines. The two primary pieces of legislation governing these requirements are the 1987 Constitution of the Philippines and the 1939 Revised Naturalization Law.
The Citizenship Clause is the first sentence of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which was adopted on July 9, 1868, which states:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
Russian citizenship law details the conditions by which a person holds citizenship of Russia. The primary law governing citizenship requirements is the federal law "On Citizenship of the Russian Federation", which came into force on 1 July 2002.
Citizenship of the United States is a legal status that entails Americans with specific rights, duties, protections, and benefits in the United States. It serves as a foundation of fundamental rights derived from and protected by the Constitution and laws of the United States, such as freedom of expression, due process, the rights to vote, live and work in the United States, and to receive federal assistance.
Multiple citizenship is a person's legal status in which a person is at the same time recognized by more than one country under its nationality and citizenship law as a national or citizen of that country. There is no international convention that determines the nationality or citizenship status of a person, which is consequently determined exclusively under national laws, that often conflict with each other, thus allowing for multiple citizenship situations to arise.
The Nationality Act of 1940 revised numerous provisions of law relating to American citizenship and naturalization. It was enacted by the 76th Congress of the United States and signed into law on October 14, 1940, a year after World War II had begun in Europe, but before the U.S. entered the war.
Venezuelan nationality law is the law governing the acquisition, transmission and loss of Venezuelan citizenship. It is based on the principle of jus soli: any person born in Venezuela acquires Venezuelan citizenship at birth, irrespective of nationality or status of parents. Venezuelan nationality law is regulated by Section 1 of Chapter 2 of the Constitution of Venezuela and by the Nationality and Citizenship Act of 2004.
A natural-born-citizen clause is a provision in some constitutions that certain officers, usually the head of state, must be "natural-born" citizens of that state, but there is no universally accepted meaning for the term natural-born. The constitutions of a number of countries contain such a clause but may define or interpret the term natural-born citizen differently. Many countries specify citizenship since birth as a requirement to hold certain offices. This is often described using the natural born phraseology and sometimes further qualified as requiring physical birth within the country's territory and/or requiring that one or both natural parents be a citizen of the country at the time of birth.