2 ms·

Then why should we give it back to you when you come back? If you could just turn your citizenship on and off with no penalty, it wouldn't be fair to the people

Then why should we give it back to you when you come back? If you could just turn your citizenship on and off with no penalty, it wouldn't be fair to the people who stay in the US if those who leave could just stop paying taxes and then come back whenever they want. And if things don't go well in the US, those who stayed are stuck but those who left have another option. So them not paying taxes to the US would be like having their cake and eating it too. They could leave and stop fulfilling all their obligations, but with the option to come back whenever.

hervature 4y ago
Because that’s not how it works? If you give up your citizenship, it is irreversible. You’ll need to immigrate like you never were.
- alwayslikethis 4y ago
  It's actually harder. I think when you apply for a visa, they'll make a special note if you once gave up your citizenship. Legislation to never admit entry to expatriates have been proposed before.
  - int_19h 4y ago
    It's not just when applying for visa; it comes up in all kinds of laws. For example, 18 USC § 922(d)(7): "It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person ... who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his citizenship" And yes, this is actively enforced as part of the federal background check system. Ironically, legal non-citizen residents can lawfully purchase firearms, even on a student or a work visa (although there are more hoops to jump through).
- ilammy 4y ago
  Quite a lot of countries have a fast-track for restoring citizenship if you had one. Not on the “when you feel like it” basis, but often without onerous requirements of foreigner naturalization.
rcme 4y ago
> Then why should we give it back to you when you come back? Because it's in the constitution, and changing that is very hard. That's the answer.

hervature 4y ago

Because that’s not how it works? If you give up your citizenship, it is irreversible. You’ll need to immigrate like you never were.

alwayslikethis 4y ago
It's actually harder. I think when you apply for a visa, they'll make a special note if you once gave up your citizenship. Legislation to never admit entry to expatriates have been proposed before.
- int_19h 4y ago
  It's not just when applying for visa; it comes up in all kinds of laws. For example, 18 USC § 922(d)(7): "It shall be unlawful for any person to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm or ammunition to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that such person ... who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his citizenship" And yes, this is actively enforced as part of the federal background check system. Ironically, legal non-citizen residents can lawfully purchase firearms, even on a student or a work visa (although there are more hoops to jump through).
ilammy 4y ago
Quite a lot of countries have a fast-track for restoring citizenship if you had one. Not on the “when you feel like it” basis, but often without onerous requirements of foreigner naturalization.

rcme 4y ago

> Then why should we give it back to you when you come back? Because it's in the constitution, and changing that is very hard. That's the answer.