UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES
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I had an acquaintance who had trouble managing her dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship. As I remember it, she was trying to use her dual citizenship status to avoid serving time in the Israeli army. Unfortunately the U.S. wouldn’t back her up since we don’t recognize dual citizenship. She had to either serve in the Israeli army (which meant, I’m pretty sure, renouncing her U.S. citizenship, since the U.S. doesn’t allow citizens to serve in foreign armed forces) or give up her Israeli citizenship.
Janet and my assistant little Ed exchanged a few notes about this. We tried to explain that the U.S. tolerates dual citizenship but doesn’t officially recognize it. Janet found this policy unacceptably ambiguous and blamed us for allowing it to persist. You’ve probably met people like this.
Another thing. I said you had to leave the country to renounce your citizenship, which is true. However, you might be able to get back in. Here’s the story from Jose Diaz of Puerto Rico:
If only it were that simple, Jose. I have another note here citing various legal authorities (e.g., ex parte Knowles, 1855) to show that you can be (1) a citizen of a state without being (2) a citizen of the United States. As you may suspect, this is a prelude to the claim that (3) you can renounce your U.S. citizenship, stay in the U.S., and legally avoid federal income tax. I am not about to investigate this, because I figure anybody trying to prove you don’t have to pay income tax is, ipso facto, wack. But if things get rocky during your next IRS audit, and it’s either this theory or jail, be my guest.
