Wed Jun 16, 2021, 09:59 PM

Federal court rules birthright citizenship does not apply to American Samoa

A three-judge panel for the Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 Tuesday that the Fourteenth Amendment's Citizenship Clause does not apply to the U.S. territory of American Samoa, reversing a lower-court ruling.

Why it matters: American Samoa, which was annexed by the U.S. in the early 1900s and is home to more than 50,000 people, is one of the only places in the country where birthright citizenship does not apply. Many people in the territory hope it remains that way, while others desire automatic citizenship.

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11 replies	Author	Time	Post
Federal court rules birthright citizenship does not apply to American Samoa (Original post)	In It to Win It	Jun 2021	OP
So, if they're not US citizens, what country are they citizens of?	Xipe Totec	Jun 2021	#1
I believe they are designated as US Nationals.	RegularJam	Jun 2021	#4
Could swear I read the opposite just yesterday (nt)	Hugh_Lebowski	Jun 2021	#2
The full decision is here	Effete Snob	Jun 2021	#7
Saw that post, guess I skimmed it too quickly. I see now it meant the opposite	Hugh_Lebowski	Jun 2021	#10
Highest rate of military enlistment of any state or territory.	RegularJam	Jun 2021	#3
+100 Thanks.	abqtommy	Jun 2021	#6
I think the real goal here is Puetro Rico, where the U.S. wealthy want Puerto Rico entirely	ShazamIam	Jun 2021	#5
Should wealthy non-Samoans be allowed to buy the land?	Effete Snob	Jun 2021	#8
Yes, and that has actually as you know happened all over the globe, native and indigenous people	ShazamIam	Jun 2021	#9
this must be the goal	rampartc	Jun 2021	#11

Response to In It to Win It (Original post)

Wed Jun 16, 2021, 10:04 PM

Xipe Totec (43,709 posts)

1. So, if they're not US citizens, what country are they citizens of?

Are they non-entities?

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Response to Xipe Totec (Reply #1)

Wed Jun 16, 2021, 10:16 PM

RegularJam (914 posts)

4. I believe they are designated as US Nationals.

All US citizens are US nationals but not all US nationals are citizens.

I know they have their own constitution but I believe their allegiance is to the US.

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Response to In It to Win It (Original post)

Wed Jun 16, 2021, 10:13 PM

Hugh_Lebowski (32,071 posts)

2. Could swear I read the opposite just yesterday (nt)

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Response to Hugh_Lebowski (Reply #2)

Wed Jun 16, 2021, 11:48 PM

Effete Snob (6,595 posts)

7. The full decision is here

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215533725

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Response to Effete Snob (Reply #7)

Thu Jun 17, 2021, 03:35 AM

Hugh_Lebowski (32,071 posts)

10. Saw that post, guess I skimmed it too quickly. I see now it meant the opposite

of what I thought at first.

Thanks!

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Response to In It to Win It (Original post)

Wed Jun 16, 2021, 10:14 PM

RegularJam (914 posts)

3. Highest rate of military enlistment of any state or territory.

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Response to RegularJam (Reply #3)

Wed Jun 16, 2021, 10:29 PM

abqtommy (14,118 posts)

6. +100 Thanks.

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Response to In It to Win It (Original post)

Wed Jun 16, 2021, 10:27 PM

ShazamIam (2,403 posts)

5. I think the real goal here is Puetro Rico, where the U.S. wealthy want Puerto Rico entirely

privatized with a present and isolated population of workers just waiting to be abused and since it will all be privately owned, No human or individual rights.

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Response to ShazamIam (Reply #5)

Wed Jun 16, 2021, 11:55 PM

Effete Snob (6,595 posts)

8. Should wealthy non-Samoans be allowed to buy the land?

And from whom would they buy it?

The Samoans own government intervened in the case to argue against citizenship.

They have a very old government and legal system based on their tribal traditions. It would be dismantled if they were US Citizens.

Or should we simply dismantle the tribal government and communal land ownership system and force them to conform to our traditions?

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/why-some-american-samoans-don-t-want-u-s-citizenship-n1103256

Why some American Samoans don't want U.S. citizenship

Some are concerned they could lose their indigenous political system and land rights, comparing it to what’s happened to Native Hawaiians.

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Response to Effete Snob (Reply #8)

Thu Jun 17, 2021, 12:26 AM

ShazamIam (2,403 posts)

9. Yes, and that has actually as you know happened all over the globe, native and indigenous people

driven off the land that was once tribal or communal, that is now "owned," by the multinational corporations and individuals for exploitation of resources including agriculture uses.

Columbus and the other EU colonists killed off the indigenous people in the Caribbean early. Puerto Rico came close to voting for statehood back in the 70/80s, but of course the billionaires ran a hard campaign that the Puerto Ricans would gain nothing and lose everything if they became a state, a lie but it worked. That along with killing any one too into, democracy, who would be labeled a commie or socialist and murdered or driven out of Puerto Rico.

https://www.thewellnews.com/in-the-news/puerto-rico-voted-for-statehood-or-did-it/

I have never used that source before and have not vetted it for ownership or political slant.

Another view: https://www.tampabay.com/opinion/2021/04/20/puerto-ricans-voted-for-statehood-now-they-are-waiting-on-congress-column/

Federal court rules birthright citizenship does not apply to American Samoa

1. So, if they're not US citizens, what country are they citizens of?

4. I believe they are designated as US Nationals.

2. Could swear I read the opposite just yesterday (nt)

7. The full decision is here

10. Saw that post, guess I skimmed it too quickly. I see now it meant the opposite

3. Highest rate of military enlistment of any state or territory.

6. +100 Thanks.

5. I think the real goal here is Puetro Rico, where the U.S. wealthy want Puerto Rico entirely

8. Should wealthy non-Samoans be allowed to buy the land?

9. Yes, and that has actually as you know happened all over the globe, native and indigenous people

11. this must be the goal