As the nation celebrates Independence Day on July 4, David O’Connor is locked in a battle with the state DMV, which says he cannot prove he is a US citizen
I’m a run of the mill American citizen, 4 generations back my family has been American. No birth weirdness or dual citizenship or anything. Decided to live overseas after uni to broaden my horizons, and last time I came back home for the holidays I was grilled on my americanness by customs… They almost didn’t let me in because they thought I was suspicious, and my passport didn’t seem right. They even said “how can you be American if you’re a resident of (country)?” I think I got the same line as this article too, the whole no way to prove I’m American (despite my passport being in their hands). Theres a gatekeeping mentality that I suspect is rampant in all levels of government, and I just wonder how many good people who deserve to be here are barred from a normal life in the US because of it
the customs there have insane powers to deny and fuck over pretty much anyone without oversight or culpability
if your name looks even slightly middle eastern or have a passport from the wrong country then you will randomly get denied entry if the agent feels that way that day
I’m a run of the mill American citizen, 4 generations back my family has been American. No birth weirdness or dual citizenship or anything. Decided to live overseas after uni to broaden my horizons, and last time I came back home for the holidays I was grilled on my americanness by customs… They almost didn’t let me in because they thought I was suspicious, and my passport didn’t seem right. They even said “how can you be American if you’re a resident of (country)?” I think I got the same line as this article too, the whole no way to prove I’m American (despite my passport being in their hands). Theres a gatekeeping mentality that I suspect is rampant in all levels of government, and I just wonder how many good people who deserve to be here are barred from a normal life in the US because of it
Well, about 1.8 million and a few generations worth of descendants is a good lower bound.
the customs there have insane powers to deny and fuck over pretty much anyone without oversight or culpability
if your name looks even slightly middle eastern or have a passport from the wrong country then you will randomly get denied entry if the agent feels that way that day