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Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno from Ohio wants to ban dual citizenship, arguing it could raise questions about where one’s loyalties lie. One triple citizen disagreed, warning that it would be a mistake.
The United States of America is often called a melting pot of culture and ideas. Dr. Brian Edmiston said there’s a reason.
“You have people who have experience from other countries and can compare it,” Edmiston said.
Born in Northern Ireland, he automatically acquired dual citizenship with Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.
However, in the 1980s he emigrated to the United States and became a US citizen two decades ago.
Now the triple citizen is a professor at Ohio State University.
“I wanted to fully participate in the work in this country,” Edmiston said. “I have family living in the UK, I have family in Ireland and I go back and forth between both countries.”
We asked if he considered himself an American.
“Yes, definitely,” he replied. “I consider myself an American because I pledged allegiance to the American Constitution and I was very happy with that.”
But if Edmiston is so cheerful to be a U.S. citizen, Ohio College Republican Party leader Gabe Guidarini said he and other dual citizens should prove their loyalty.
“If you are an American, you are an American citizen – you are just an American citizen,” Guidarini assured.
Supports Moreno’s novel legislation. Colombian-born MP presented the bill which would prohibit dual citizenship.
“If you’re going to come to this country, take advantage of our resources and pursue the American dream, it has to be a long-term commitment to that dream,” Guidarini said. “Otherwise, how could we trust you?”
The college student said dual citizens should renounce their other citizenship, as Moreno did when he became a U.S. citizen at age 18.
“Existing law allows certain U.S. citizens to retain foreign citizenship, which may create conflicts of interest and divided loyalties,” the legislation states.
“It is in the national interest of the United States to ensure exclusive citizenship of the United States.”
The senator was not present at the conversation, but made this statement:
“It was an honor to pledge allegiance to the United States of America and ONLY the United States of America!” Moreno said. “Being an American citizen is an honor and a privilege – and if you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing. It’s time to end dual citizenship for good.”
Guidarini claimed that dual citizens were “taking advantage” of the system by spending money in another country.
We asked how citizens’ money could be controlled – referring to how the United States would have to track citizens’ spending habits and how American companies have factories abroad.
“It’s not about guarding other people’s money, it’s about making sure America is the only liability,” he replied.
If it’s just a transaction, he said, as in the case of a Chinese company investing in the U.S., it’s different than a dual citizen who takes money he earns at work and sends it to relatives abroad.
We asked if he saw dual citizenship taking advantage of the system, to which he replied that students with visas – a ephemeral pass to stay in the US, not full citizenship – would get local jobs and not participate in the US economy.
“I think there should be a minimum commitment here about whether – if you come to America, if you use our services, if you use our taxpayer dollars… your financial development should also be for the collective benefit of America,” Guidarini said. “You shouldn’t be able to just take America’s resources and take them back to your country where you come from.”
These are not arguments, Edmiston said.
“I don’t see any conflict between being a citizen of three different jurisdictions,” Edmiston said.
We asked how he would feel if he had to choose between three different citizenships.
“I don’t know… It’s depressing,” he replied. “Loyalty is not a uniform and non-exclusive thing.”
He added that this would make all immigration, especially legal immigration, more tough.
“I immigrated here legally, I went through this process and I was proud of it,” said the professor. “This is dividing people into categories and saying, ‘These are real Americans.'”
And for Edmiston, his three passports tell a story – one that exemplifies the American dream.
“People should be encouraged to stay, not pushed out and not given a false choice,” he said.
The United States will be no better off, he said, if the crucible runs parched.
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This article was originally published on News5Cleveland.com and are published in the Ohio Capital Journal under a content sharing agreement. Unlike other OCJ articles, it is not available for free republication on other news outlets because it is owned by WEWS in Cleveland.
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