Also known as:natural · naturalize · naturalized · naturalizing · naturalizations · natural-born · naturalized citizen
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The statutory process by which a foreign-born person acquires United States citizenship.
Sources & Authorities· 31 primary sources
Select any source to read its text and confirm it supports the definition.
Cases
Statutes
How it applies
Common Examples
6
Nighttime Naturalization Ceremony
Nalini Narula completed her naturalization oath at a courthouse after sunset. The ceremony was conducted under the supervision of immigration officials. Her new citizenship status took effect immediately upon completion of the oath.
Fourteenth Amendment Citizenship
Neville Norton, born abroad, petitioned for naturalization and received his certificate. Under the Fourteenth Amendment he became a citizen of the United States and of the state where he resided, entitling him to the privileges and immunities of citizenship.
Landlord Disclosure After Naturalization
Nadia Novak became a naturalized citizen and then leased an apartment. When the landlord failed to disclose a known dangerous condition at the time she took possession, her citizenship status did not alter the landlord's liability for resulting physical harm.
Natasha Nielsen, recently naturalized, executed a will disposing of her property. Because she understood the nature and extent of her property and the natural objects of her bounty, the will satisfied the capacity requirement for a donative transfer.
Naturalized Citizen and Commerce
Nathaniel Newman, a naturalized citizen, sought to export locally obtained natural resources. A state law prohibiting the export to protect in-state buyers was held invalid as impermissible economic protectionism.
Venue for Naturalized Resident
Nigel Nelson, a naturalized citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residence, filed suit in the judicial district where he was domiciled. The venue statute treated him as residing in that district for all venue purposes.
Common questions
Frequently Asked
3
What is the constitutional basis for naturalization?+
Article I grants Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Fourteenth Amendment confirms that persons naturalized in the United States are citizens.
Supporting sources
Can Congress strip citizenship from a naturalized person?+
No. The Supreme Court has held that Congress may not involuntarily strip United States citizenship from a naturalized person without that person's consent.
Supporting sources
What does the dictionary define naturalization as?+
Black's Law Dictionary defines naturalization as the granting of citizenship to a foreign-born person under statutory authority.
Supporting sources
410 U.S. 113 (1973)Constitutional Law
…of the Fourteenth Amendment contains three references to "person." The first, in defining "citizens," speaks of "persons born or naturalized in the United States." The word also appears both in the Due Process Clause and in the Equal Protection Clause. "Person" is used in other places in the Constitution: in the listing of…
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