Understanding Naturalized Citizenship: Rights, Process, and Recent Developments

A naturalized citizen is an individual who was not born a U.S. citizen but has acquired citizenship through the naturalization process. This process is governed by U.S. immigration laws and involves several steps and requirements.

To become a naturalized citizen, an individual must be at least 18 years old, a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) for at least five years (or three years if married to a U.S. citizen), and must demonstrate continuous residence and physical presence in the U.S. Additionally, they must show good moral character and pass both English language and U.S. civics tests.

The naturalization process begins with filing Form N-400 with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), followed by a biometrics appointment, a naturalization interview, and the citizenship test. Once these steps are completed, the individual can participate in a naturalization ceremony to officially become a U.S. citizen.

Naturalized citizens enjoy the same rights and privileges as natural-born citizens, including the right to vote, hold public offices (except for President and Vice President), and travel freely with a U.S. passport. They can also sponsor family members for immigration to the U.S. and maintain dual citizenship in many cases.

Recently, there have been discussions and legislative actions related to citizenship. In North Carolina, voters have passed a constitutional amendment that changes the language in the state constitution to specify that only U.S. citizens who are 18 years old and meet other qualifications can vote. However, this change does not alter the existing eligibility criteria for voting, as it is already illegal for noncitizens to vote in federal or state elections.

Additionally, there are ongoing debates about the interpretation of the 14th Amendment, particularly regarding birthright citizenship. Donald Trump has proposed an executive order to end automatic citizenship for children born in the U.S. to parents who are not U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents. This proposal is expected to face significant legal challenges, as it is seen by many as a contravention of the 14th Amendment).