Can you be born in New York City, NY and NOT be a US citizen?

Question

I was listening to a radio show that likes to ask puzzler questions (Car Talk on NPR Radio).  Their question was about a man who was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, lived there all his life and even dies there, but was not an American Citizen.  How could that be?  Of course the answer was that he lived and died before 1776.  He was a British Citizen.

I've got this twisted mind, so I thought, "Can it happen today?" My question is, "Is the child of a foreign diplomat that is born in the embassy in Washington, DC or NYC automatically considered an American citizen?"  What about on the UN grounds in NYC?  The embassy and the UN are considered 'foreign' soil.  US law enforcement personnel have not authority there, unless granted by the UN or foreign mission.

I'm sure that a birth as described above has happened.  Does anyone know of a case or court ruling that supports either side?

Please cite your answer.  I'm not looking for a long answer, this isn't a homework question by some lazy teenager.  Just a few words and a citation.


Thanks.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Read the 14th amendment


During discussion of whether to pass the 14th Amendment, there was great debate over granting citizenship to anyone born in the United States. The author of the 14th Amendment, Senator Howard, stated, in reference to the Amendment, "This will not, of course, include persons born in the United States who are foreigners, aliens, who belong to the family of ambassadors, or foreign ministers accredited to the the Government of the United States, but will include every other class of persons

? · Answer

The average London rent is £700 to £1500, double that or more for dollars. And you will only be able to find bar work for cash on a temporry basis if you are lucky. Bar work only pays around £600 - £800 per month. Avoid some areas - very shadey areas are like Brixton and Tooting in the South, there are many in the North. The further you live away from London the cheaper the rent will be. Places out of london are more than half price. Im thinking of moving out so I can have two houses and two cars!

happyduck5 · Answer

I live at a University where there are many students and their families who come from many other countries -China, Lebanon, The Dominican Republic, Korea, Japan, Russia, and many others. From my many conversations with such a diverse group, I have heard that if your child is born in the US, than they are a US citizen, but also hold citizenship due to their parents "non-citizen" status. They have until they are (I believe) 18 or 19 to decide whether they want to be a citizen of the US, or of their parent's native country. 

As far as being born at an embassy, I do not know the laws regarding that. I would assume that the same laws would be in place, only in reverse -the parents are US citizen's, therefore the child has the choice, etc. (although that is simply speculation). 

Hope this helps!

Anonymous · Answer

yes not everyone wants to b an american say a journalist was stationed there and his wife had a baby, he maybe proud of his country and not wat american citizenship
not all the world thinks america is the place to be or being american is a good thing

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Can you be born in New York City, NY and NOT be a US citizen?

4 Answers