This could land Bernie Moreno in a lot of hot water. This story comes under the heading of what’s okay for thee is one thing and what’s okay for me, is another thing. And don’t think for a moment that Trump’s wife and youngest son don’t fully intend to take advantage of whatever citizenship rights they have in two countries, as it suits them. Moreno proposes a bill which would force all dual citizens to declare citizenship either to the United States or to their other country of citizenship — but not retain both. Moreno was born in Colombia and had dual citizenship and then renounced his Colombian citizenship. Now he’s only a U.S. citizen and that was probably intended to impress the America First base. But there is a problem: what will both the First Lady and the First Son do about their dual U.S./Slovenian citizenship? Daily Beast:
“It was an honor to pledge an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and only to the United States of America,” Moreno said. “Being an American citizen is an honor and a privilege—and if you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing. It’s time to end dual citizenship for good.”
Both Melania and Barron Trump remain dual citizens of the U.S. and Slovenia, and would potentially be impacted by Moreno’s planned legislation.
Melania, who was born in Slovenia, is only the second first lady born outside of America, after Louisa Adams, the wife of President John Quincy Adams. She was born in London in 1775. […]
“If you have a Slovenian citizenship, which Barron is entitled to, the passport makes a lot of things easier,” [Author of book about Melania, Mary] Jordan said.
“First of all he can work freely in all of Europe much more easily… so if he wants to go start a Paris bureau of Trump.org, or a Slovenian bureau, it’s much easier for him and it just gives him more options. And I think she also likes that he speaks Slovenian, he has a Slovenian passport.”
“By getting him the citizenship and the passport it’s easier for him to get a job, it’s easier for him to set up a business, it’s easier for him to inherit land,” she added. “It’s mama bear just giving options to her son.”
Yes, and she’s not likely to enjoy Moreno’s interference. Moreno’s proposed law would be enforced by the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, which would set up a system to track dual citizens. And that would mean tracking Melania and Barron.
Those flagged by the system would have a year to either renounce their foreign citizenship or forfeit their U.S. citizenship. After a year, anyone who did not comply would automatically lose their U.S. citizenship. Those who give up their U.S. citizenship, voluntary or otherwise, would be treated under immigration law as foreigners and recorded as non-citizens.
You think this is going to happen to Melania and Barron in a million years, let alone one? Puh-leeze. No way in hell. What will probably happen is Moreno’s law will pass into obscurity, or maybe it will get passed but look for some obvious exclusions for certain individuals, Melania and Barron topping the list.
Maybe it’s just me but it’s a bit ironic that Barron is “entitled” to Slovenian citizenship ONLY because his mother retains her Slovenian citizenship and Barron (to the best of my knowledge) has never even visited the country. And Melania’s own American citizenship is actually a bit dubious.
Yep. She didn’t qualify for the so-called Einstein Visa issued to people with special talents and skills. She was a fucking model, a dime a dozen run of the mill model. So someone greased some palms to get her that Visa. There are other issues with her early years in this country, and to be fair ‘paperwork’ with immigration is a freaking nightmare. It’s easy for people who are trying hard and even have competent immigration lawyers helping to make a mistake along the way. Then there are those like Melania who flat-out cheat the system.
In the past INS would work things out with folks, and they’d get a green card and sometimes even citizenship if they chose to obtain it. Now you have DHS scouring everyone’s files looking for ANY paperwork slip up, missed appointment (because notice had been mailed to an old address) as an excuse to deport people. Melania actually had to sneak through her own and her parent’s swearing in as citizens. In his first term Trump clearly had thrown sand in the gears but she seized a brief window of a few hours while he was consumed with something and got the final approval and her (and her parents) ass to a schedule swearing in ceremony. No doubt Trump was livid when he found out.
I wonder how all THAT got treated in prenup negotiations since then?