World War II Vet Learns He's Not a U.S. Citizen

MyFoxPhoenix.com ^ | March 23, 2011

[Kaslin]

CENTRALIA, WA - Imagine living in this country for nearly a 100 years only to learn you're not a citizen.

It happened to a 95-year-old military veteran in Washington named Leeland Davidson.

Davidson knew he was born in Canada in 1916, but figured because his parents were American, he was automatically a U.S. citizen.

He was able to join the Navy and served in World War II, but when Davidson recently went to get the driver's license he needed to go to Canada to visit relatives, he learned otherwise.

[Kaslin]

Wasn’t he born in a Naval station military hospital, which made it US territory?

[Rebelbase]

“So, he’s technically not a citizen, but he shouldn’t have a problem becoming one by simply filing the necessary paperwork.”

At 95 years old, he’ll die before the paperwork is processed.

[brytlea]

Just a little quick googling, and since the article is so thin on real info it makes me wonder if there aren’t some circumstances they are leaving out. For instance, if his parents were citizens but had never lived in the US, he would not be a citizen. There may be other circumstances as well.

[Kaslin]

Get a clue. This has nothing to do with amnesty. His parents were US citizen. The mistake they made was not going to the US Consulate in Canada and register his birth

[passionfruit]

It is called derived citizenship. He is a U. S. citizen.

[luvbach1]

Confirm this patriot’s citizenship and deport the Bamster. A fair tradeoff.

[passionfruit]

It is called derived citizenship. He is a U. S. citizen.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Correct. If you have a child while living abroad, even if both parents are US Citizens born and bred, you must apply at the Consulate for a Birth Certificate stating the child is an American. McCain's parents had to do so, countless thousands so delivered have had to in the past.

That's the sticky wicket regarding the President's birth certificate. Something tells me his free spirit Mom didn't know that was required. She just came home with her baby and thought all was well. I'm thinking Grandma tried to rectify that when Barry was left on her doorstep as a pre-teen and she had no way to get him enrolled in school. That's why there is no actual “birth certificate,” just something they did to help her take care of her grandson. I don't actually know what the procedure is when the parents screw up — certainly not 50 or more years ago.

[ScreamingFist]

My son and my daughter were both born in Germany about 6 years apart in the same US Army hospital which made it US territory.

I was born in Germany to US parents as well. It was a simple matter for my parents to have me naturalized when I was about six. Someone is BS'ing this patriot.

[Kaslin]

It’s the immigration court who grants citizenship not the President, but I think you are correct that under President Bush legal immigrants that served in the US Military in Iraq and Afghanistan were granted citizenships

[SZonian]

Thanks for the clarification, didn’t follow the specifics to closely then (as evidenced by my post).

Either way, the gov’t needs to help him clear this up quickly. I don’t see how a 95 year old “error” could or should be held over this vet’s head.

FRegards,
SZ

[Kaslin]

From the article at Fox News.com

-- snip --

The 95-year-old's parents were born in the U.S., but they had him while in Canada. And the proper paperwork apparently was never filed to report Davidson as being born to Americans living abroad.

-- snip --

World War II Vet Finds Out He Is Not a U.S. Citizen

[Gen.Blather]

My 94 year old mother moved into assisted living. The DMV got her age and the new address wrong. She went with her passport, her old driver’s license and her social security card, which had her maiden name on it. The DMV told her they could not correct their error until she had a new, certified marriage certificate issued. She has no idea what city she was married in 70 years ago. (It was in the woods of Kentucky.)

However, I know a man from El Salvador. He was in the US on a valid visa and went to get a driver’s license. They issued him a driver’s license and handed him a voter’s ID card. He’s now a registered Democrat. He says everybody he knows in his immigrant neighborhood are registered democrats, even though many are here illegally.

Granted these are different offices, but still state offices. I’m smelling reverse discrimination.

[jamese777]

Panama Canal Zone was U.S. Territory at the time...........

---

It was never U.S. owned land.
On January 22, 1903, the Hay-Herran Treaty was signed by United States Secretary of State John M. Hay and Dr. Tomás Herrán of Colombia. It would have granted the United States a renewable lease in perpetuity from Colombia on the land proposed for the canal. This is often misinterpreted as the “99-year lease” due to misleading wording included in article 22 of the agreement that refers to property within the land but does not pertain to the control of the canal and the right for the United States to renew the lease indefinitely. It was ratified by the United States Senate on March 14, 1903, but the Senate of Colombia did not ratify the treaty. Philippe Bunau-Varilla, chief engineer of the French canal company, told Roosevelt and Hay of a possible revolt and hoped that the U.S. would support it with troops and money. President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt changed tactics, promising support for Panama’s intermittent separatist movement. On November 2, 1903, U.S. warships blocked sealanes for Colombian troops from coming to put down the revolt, while dense jungles blocked land routes. Panama achieved independence on November 3, 1903 when the United States sent naval forces to encourage Colombia’s surrender of the region. The United States quickly recognized them. Also, on November 6, 1903, Phillipe Bunau-Varilla, Panama’s ambassador to the United States, signed the Hay-Bunau Varilla Treaty, granting rights to the United States to build and indefinitely administer the Panama Canal. Although Bunau-Varilla was serving as Panama’s ambassador, he was a French citizen and was not authorized to sign treaties on behalf of Panama without Panamanian review. This treaty would later become a contentious diplomatic issue between Panama and the U.S..

The United States, under President Theodore Roosevelt, bought out the French equipment and excavations for US$40 million and began work on May 4, 1904. The United States paid Colombia $25,000,000 in 1921, seven years after completion of the canal, for redress of President Roosevelt’s role in the creation of Panama, and Colombia recognized Panama under the terms of the Thomson-Urrutia Treaty.—From Wikipedia

[brytlea]

Maybe he is, maybe he's not. Of course, the article doesn't really tell us what the bone of contention is.

But this process only applies to children permanently residing in the U.S. If the child is under 18, was born outside the United States, but lives abroad in the physical and legal custody of a U.S. citizen parent or U.S. citizen grandparent, the parent or grandparent must apply for naturalization of the child. In addition, more criteria must be met.

The U.S. citizen parent or grandparent must have been physically present in the U.S. for five years before the child's birth, at least two of which were after age fourteen. Further, the child must be temporarily present in the U.S. for the naturalization process and to recite the oath of allegiance. Of course, if the child is too young to understand the oath, this requirement may be waived.

http://www.legalzoom.com/marriage-divorce-family-law/family-law-basics/is-your-child-us

I don't know if this is the case here, but it may well be that his parents had not met the condition of living in the US for the amount of time required. As usual, I would like more info. On the other hand, it seems that he would qualify since he served our country.

[brytlea]

Thank you for that info, I did not see it.

[Da Coyote]

Hey, if being an ILLEGAL ALIEN is good enough for the president, why not for someone who has actually done something for the country?

My advice, give this guy his license, and kick out the IDIOT IN CHIEF.

[brytlea]

Altho now that you think about it, he is not really a citizen, he has a SS #, was allowed into the military, etc and they never caught it? Clearly there are problems with the system.

[brytlea]

Altho now that you think about it, he is not really a citizen, he has a SS #, was allowed into the military, etc and they never caught it? Clearly there are problems with the system.

[Brad from Tennessee]

[My son and my daughter were both born in Germany about 6 years apart in the same US Army hospital which made it US territory. We had to travel to the US Consulate in Munich to get their US Birth certificate.]

This is crazy. But it may be a result of the post-9/11 legislation that made it harder to obtain personal documents. I hope the Army has fixed this.