• Hildegarde@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    No, you don’t. Most countries require you to have citizenship in another country before renouncing your citizenship. The US is not one of them. Americans have the right to make themselves stateless if they choose.

    They will warn you that becoming stateless is a bad idea, but they won’t stop you. Per the state department’s website:

    Persons who contemplate renunciation of U.S. nationality should be aware that they will experience a great deal of hardship unless they already possess a foreign nationality or are assured of acquiring another nationality shortly after completing their renunciation. In the absence of a second nationality, those individuals would become stateless. As stateless persons, they would not be entitled to the protection of any government. They might also find it difficult or impossible to travel as they would probably not be entitled to a passport from any country. Furthermore, a person who has renounced U.S. nationality will be required to apply for a visa to travel to the United States, just as other aliens do. If found ineligible for a visa, a renunciant could be barred from the United States. Renunciation of American nationality does not necessarily prevent a former national’s deportation from a foreign country to the United States as an alien.

    • chicken@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      9 months ago

      Furthermore, a person who has renounced U.S. nationality will be required to apply for a visa to travel to the United States, just as other aliens do. If found ineligible for a visa, a renunciant could be barred from the United States.

      But where would they deport you to? Antarctica? The ocean? The moon?

      • Serinus@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        The airline doesn’t allow you onto the plane. The US doesn’t allow you off of the ship. And God help you if you think you’re getting through the Mexican border.

      • Hildegarde@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        A person who is a national of the United States whether, by birth or naturalization, shall lose his nationality by voluntarily…

        making a formal renunciation of nationality before a diplomatic or consular officer of the United States in a foreign state

        You have to be outside the US to renounce. Deportation is not the US’s problem.

        But yes, that’s one of the big issues of statelessness they can’t send you back anywhere.

        Edit: second half the quote was not formatted as a quote. fixed

    • aodhsishaj@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      If you don’t want to be considered stateless, also you need to pass your exit interview. Both require citizenship in another country