Should non-citizens in the U.S. vote?
As of Jan. 1, 2012, an estimated 13.3 million lawful permanent residents lived in the United States, and 8.8 million of them were eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship but had not done so. In...
View ArticleThe problem of dual citizenship
Before becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen, immigrants must take an oath that says, in part, "I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity...
View ArticleCitizenship 101: Too many Americans are ignorant of the basics of democracy
In 1954, when the Supreme Court ruled that segregated public schools were unconstitutional, Chief Justice Earl Warren emphasized the importance of public education as a crucible for good...
View ArticleDoes the 'good corporate citizen' get a say in the political process?
This year, in criticizing U.S. firms that moved their headquarters to lower-tax countries, President Obama said that corporate executives are paid not only to maximize profits but also to be "good...
View ArticleThe meaning of U.S. citizenship
In recent years, the concept of U.S. citizenship has figured in public debate largely in connection with immigration reform. Should immigrants who are in the country illegally be given a "path to...
View Article21st century citizenship: Readers on being American
In an editorial Sunday, The Times posed several questions -- on the importance of English proficiency, whether dual nationalities should be recognized, if a path to citizenship is the only way to...
View ArticleWhy U.S. citizenship matters
To most Americans, it may seem obvious that someone permanently residing in the United States should be able - and should desire - to become a U.S. citizen. Yet in the debate over legalizing some 11...
View ArticleBecoming an American: Why citizenship and not residency?
It isn't enough merely to legalize the millions of undocumented residents in this country, The Times' editorial board wrote in the latest installment of its series examining the meaning of citizenship...
View ArticleThe 'birthright citizenship' debate
Any child born in the United States is automatically a U.S. citizen, even if his or her parents are in the country temporarily or illegally. That long-standing guarantee has given rise to one of the...
View ArticleBirthright citizenship: Error or example of American exceptionalism?
Until this week, the letters responding to our editorial series exploring the meaning of U.S. citizenship in the 21st century have nearly all been so thoughtful and civil for a topic that stirs great...
View ArticleThe evolving acceptance of dual citizenship
Naturalization ceremonies are the stock in trade of American news organizations: the speeches, the number of countries represented among the applicants and the pictures of newly minted Americans...
View ArticleThe complicated rules of citizenship
To Americans, the rules of citizenship can seem simple: You're a member of this nation either by birth or naturalization. But centuries of debate over how citizenship can be acquired and lost show...
View ArticleGOP could reopen citizenship paths created by Hoover and Reagan
The United States has always had a "path to citizenship." One of my ancestors simply went to a judge in St. Louis in 1850, proved he had been here for two years since getting off the boat and...
View ArticleEnglish for Americans: Encouraged but not required
The terms "American" and "U.S. citizen" are used interchangeably, but it is widely understood that there is more to being an American than possessing citizenship. The late Harvard political scientist...
View ArticleDoes speaking English make an immigrant more American?
The Times' meditations over the last several weeks on what U.S. citizenship means in the 21st century -- exploring topics such as dual nationality, byzantine immigration laws, permanent residency...
View ArticlePatriotic Americans have the right not to believe in any God
Belief in God is obviously not a legal requirement for U.S. citizenship. Yet, as we observed in the first editorial in this series, citizenship has meanings that are deeper and more subtle than legal...
View ArticleReligion in America: Good without God?
There are certain topics on which our letter writers and online commenters talk past the author of the piece who prompted them to respond. They don't address points raised in the original article;...
View ArticleGive noncitizens the right to vote? It's only fair
The contemporary immigrant rights movement has commanded attention through civil disobedience, student walkouts and intensive lobbying. But there's another tactic - increasing immigrant clout by...
View ArticleNon-citizens: A right to vote, or not?
To the editor: You bring up some very compelling arguments for voting rights for noncitizens who are in this country legally and pay local, state and federal taxes. ( "Should non-citizens vote?"...
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