# Why do U.S. presidents have to be natural born citizens? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 29, 2001, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-u-s-presidents-have-to-be-natural-born-citizens/52194 "2001-01-29T02:09:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-u-s-presidents-have-to-be-natural-born-citizens/52194/21 "2001-01-30T00:08:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sunspace \* > \*\* > > If someone was born to foreign parents who were in transit at a US airport (but who were inside the US customs zone), would that person be a US citizen, and thus able to move to the US later and be eligible for the Presidency? > \*\* If you are born within the United States of America, you are a natural born citizen with all the rights that entitles you to (such as Medicaid, food stamps, etc.). This is an important issue in border communities. Some people come into Texas simply to have children, then return to Mexico. The children are then citizens of the USA and can assert their citizenship rights. I believe, however, that they must return to the United States before their twenty-first birthday, or they lose their American citizenship. The United States does not recognize dual citizenship, so a person must choose USA or Mexico (or whatever) by age 21. Of course, not being an immigration lawyer, I could be wrong. I just know that it’s been an issue. Hospital emergency rooms receiving Federal money (such as Medicare and Medicaid) cannot refuse service to anyone with dire medical need or any pregnant woman in labor. Therefore, when a pregnant legal or illegal alien presents herself in a Texas emergency room, they must (and will) give her maternity services. Personally, while some people think that this is wrong, I think that it is an appropriate homage to the fact that ours is an immigrant nation. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-u-s-presidents-have-to-be-natural-born-citizens/52194/22 "2001-01-30T07:16:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Drum God \* > **…The United States does not recognize dual citizenship, so a person must choose USA or Mexico (or whatever) by age 21.** That’s not at all true. The following quote is located at [http://travel.state.gov/americansabroad.html](http://travel.state.gov/americansabroad.html). > [@](#): > > Dual Nationality > While recognizing the existence of dual nationality, the U.S. Government does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries upon dual-national U.S. citizens often place them in situations where their obligations to one country are in conflict with U.S. law. Dual nationality may hamper efforts by the U.S. Government to provide diplomatic and consular protection to individuals overseas. When a U.S. citizen is in the other country of their dual nationality, that country has a predominant claim on the person. If you have any question about dual nationality, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at the address in the previous section. ---
**Author:** ![Damhna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Damhna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damhna)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-u-s-presidents-have-to-be-natural-born-citizens/52194/23 "2001-01-30T12:21:27Z")
Was there not a citizenship problem with Madeline Albright’s appointment originally. Would she be eligble now to run for president? ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-u-s-presidents-have-to-be-natural-born-citizens/52194/24 "2001-01-30T12:33:12Z")
No, she was not born a US citizen, and thus can not be President. ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-u-s-presidents-have-to-be-natural-born-citizens/52194/25 "2001-01-30T14:15:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balthisar \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > \*Originally posted by Drum God \* > > **…The United States does not recognize dual citizenship, so a person must choose USA or Mexico (or whatever) by age 21.** > > That’s not at all true. The following quote is located at [http://travel.state.gov/americansabroad.html](http://travel.state.gov/americansabroad.html). > > > [@](#): > > > > Dual Nationality > > While recognizing the existence of dual nationality, the U.S. Government does not encourage it as a matter of policy because of the problems it may cause. Claims of other countries upon dual-national U.S. citizens often place them in situations where their obligations to one country are in conflict with U.S. law. Dual nationality may hamper efforts by the U.S. Government to provide diplomatic and consular protection to individuals overseas. When a U.S. citizen is in the other country of their dual nationality, that country has a predominant claim on the person. If you have any question about dual nationality, contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate or the Office of Overseas Citizens Services at the address in the previous section. > > \*\* I stand (or actually sit) corrected. As I said, I’m not an immigration attorney. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2001, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-u-s-presidents-have-to-be-natural-born-citizens/52194/26 "2001-01-30T17:22:10Z")
Cecil has dealt with the [dual citizenship](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_229.html) question. As for the OP, there’s an extensive scholarly paper on this exact question [here](http://www-cpr.maxwell.syr.edu/~jyinger/facfa/history.htm). It appears that the primary reason for the “natural born citizen” clause was to prevent a foreign power from having undue influence over the presidency. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-u-s-presidents-have-to-be-natural-born-citizens/52194.md?page=1)