Cruz renouncing Canadian citizenship

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) announced late Monday that he will renounce his Canadian citizenship, less than a day after The Dallas Morning News noted that the senator, who was born in Canada to an American mother, is likely a dual citizen.

“Now, The Dallas Morning News says that I may technically have dual citizenship,” Cruz said in a statement. “Assuming that is true, then sure, I will renounce any Canadian citizenship. Nothing against Canada, but I’m an American by birth and as a U.S. senator; I believe I should be only an American.”

{mosads}Cruz released his birth certificate to the newspaper Sunday night, a move meant to undercut critics who say he’s ineligible to run for president. The Constitution says only a “natural born” American citizen can become president, which includes those born overseas to American parents.

But The Dallas Morning News reported that under Canadian law, Cruz’s birthplace made him an automatic citizen of Canada. Since Cruz never officially renounced his Canadian citizenship, he was technically a Canadian and an American citizen, the newspaper reported.

The Constitution does not specifically address whether someone with dual citizenship can run for president.

Cruz’s release of his birth certificate, along with the senator’s recent trip to several early-primary states, has fueled rumors that he is considering a White House bid in 2016. Cruz has maintained that he is an American citizen and therefore eligible to run for president, but experts say Cruz’s eligibility is not clear.

The controversy over Cruz’s citizenship is reminiscent of the conspiracies that surrounded President Obama before he released his birth certificate in 2011. Obama was born in Hawaii in 1961.