I'm a run of the mill American citizen, 4 generations back my family has been American. No birth weirdness or dual citizenship or anything. Decided to live overseas after uni to broaden my horizons, and last time I came back home for the holidays I was grilled on my americanness by customs... They almost didn't let me in because they thought I was suspicious, and my passport didn't seem right. They even said "how can you be American if you're a resident of (country)?" I think I got the same line as this article too, the whole no way to prove I'm American (despite my passport being in their hands). Theres a gatekeeping mentality that I suspect is rampant in all levels of government, and I just wonder how many good people who deserve to be here are barred from a normal life in the US because of it
the customs there have insane powers to deny and fuck over pretty much anyone without oversight or culpability
if your name looks even slightly middle eastern or have a passport from the wrong country then you will randomly get denied entry if the agent feels that way that day
Yes, but the article says this was for a REAL ID, which is a federal program to enhance state IDs. If the guy has a passport, that's perfectly valid proof of citizenship, and he can just bring that to the DMV. Or, he should have a certificate or report of US birth abroad. If he doesn't have any of those, he can request a certificate of citizenship.
Or he could just get a regular driver's license without the REAL ID. Those aren't going away any time soon and are perfectly valid for driving, no citizenship required.
8 Comments
mangosloth@lemmy.world · 55 pts · 2y
I'm a run of the mill American citizen, 4 generations back my family has been American. No birth weirdness or dual citizenship or anything. Decided to live overseas after uni to broaden my horizons, and last time I came back home for the holidays I was grilled on my americanness by customs... They almost didn't let me in because they thought I was suspicious, and my passport didn't seem right. They even said "how can you be American if you're a resident of (country)?" I think I got the same line as this article too, the whole no way to prove I'm American (despite my passport being in their hands). Theres a gatekeeping mentality that I suspect is rampant in all levels of government, and I just wonder how many good people who deserve to be here are barred from a normal life in the US because of it
100@fedia.io · 21 pts · 2y
the customs there have insane powers to deny and fuck over pretty much anyone without oversight or culpability
if your name looks even slightly middle eastern or have a passport from the wrong country then you will randomly get denied entry if the agent feels that way that day
grue@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 2y
Well, about 1.8 million and a few generations worth of descendants is a good lower bound.
Etterra@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 2y
Southern State is stupid, film at 11.
catloaf@lemm.ee · 4 pts · 2y
Yes, but the article says this was for a REAL ID, which is a federal program to enhance state IDs. If the guy has a passport, that's perfectly valid proof of citizenship, and he can just bring that to the DMV. Or, he should have a certificate or report of US birth abroad. If he doesn't have any of those, he can request a certificate of citizenship.
Or he could just get a regular driver's license without the REAL ID. Those aren't going away any time soon and are perfectly valid for driving, no citizenship required.
stoly@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 2y
Real ID isn’t the issue here. This is either an idiot or an asshole making someone’s life difficult just because.
praise_idleness@sh.itjust.works · 22 pts · 2y
ASeriesOfPoorChoices@lemmy.world · 21 pts · 2y
Forester@yiffit.net · 18 pts · 2y
If I remember correctly, you only need to serve one a year in the military to become a naturalized citizen...