Vern Phillips, age 14, of Glendale, Ariz., for his question:
JUST WHAT IS DUAL CITIZENSHIP?
Sometimes a person may find himself with two nationalities, because every country has its own citizenship laws. This situation is called dual citizenship or dual nationality. A person may have one nationality because of his place of birth, and another because of his parents citizenship.
An example of this could come with the birth in the United States of a child or Italian parents. This child could claim citizenship in both countries.
A person might also gain dual citizenship as the result of naturalization. This situation may occur if the country he leaves does not recognize his change of allegiance and still claims him as a citizen.
Persons who have dual citizenship are usually not aware of their unusual situations. Under international law, every nation is supreme within its own boundaries. For example, that child born in the United States of Italian parents is considered an American citizen within the borders of the United States. He is also considered an American while he travels with an American passport anywhere in the world except Italy.
Italy has agreed not to claim such a dual citizen if he visits the country in time of peace. But it becomes difficult to determine his status if he remains in Italy for a long time or if Italy becomes involved in a war while he is there.
In the same way, it is difficult to decide the nationality of a naturalized citizen if the United States withdraws its protection from him because he returns to the land of his birth for an extended stay.
A person with dual citizenship faces another danger in time of war. If he fulfills his obligations of allegiance to one country, he may find that he is committing treason against the other country.
Most countries recognize the right of any citizen to expatriate himself, or give up his allegiance to one country for allegiance to another. A person gives up his citizenship in one country when he is naturalized in another, if the country he leaves recognizes his right of expatriation.
The Immigration and Nationality Act of 1952 lists specific actions that may cause a person to lose his United States citizenship. Some of its provisions were designed to reduce the number of American citizens having dual citizenship.
A person can lose his United States citizenship if he voluntarily becomes naturalized in another country, voluntarily takes an oath of allegiance to another country, or serves in another country's military forces or its government.
A person can also lose his citizenship by formally renouncing it, or by committing treason.