Cruz renounces Canadian citizenship

After releasing his birth certificate, the Texas senator discovered he had dual citizenship

Published August 20, 2013 1:23PM (EDT)

After learning that he may have dual Canadian and American citizenship, Sen. Ted Cruz has announced that he will renounce his ties to Canada. "Nothing against Canada, but I'm an American by birth and as a U.S. senator, I believe I should be only an American," he said.

“Now the Dallas Morning News says that I may technically have dual citizenship,” Cruz said, according to ABC News. “Assuming that is true, then sure, I will renounce any Canadian citizenship."

On Monday, Cruz released his birth certificate to the Dallas Morning News, amid questions from some (like Donald Trump) that he may not be eligible to run for president in 2016 since he was born in Canada. Cruz's mother was a U.S. citizen, so when he was born Cruz immediately became a U.S. citizen as well. The Morning News spoke to legal experts who said they believed Cruz, in this case, has dual citizenship.


By Jillian Rayfield

Jillian Rayfield is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on politics. Follow her on Twitter at @jillrayfield or email her at jrayfield@salon.com.

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2016 Elections Birthers Canada Republicans Ted Cruz