I 

108TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 2600

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to simplify the requirements 

for United States nationals to become citizens. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

JUNE 25, 2003

Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 

Committee on the Judiciary 

A BILL

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to simplify 

the requirements for United States nationals to become 

citizens.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 

4 The Congress finds the following: 

5 (1) Under the Immigration and Nationality 

6 Act, persons born in Puerto Rico, Guam, the United 

7 States Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the 

8 Northern Mariana Islands are citizens of the United 

9 States at birth. Persons born in the United States 
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1 territory of American Samoa are nationals of the 

2 United States, but not citizens, at birth. 

3 (2) The term ‘‘national of the United States’’ 

4 is defined under the Immigration and Nationality 

5 Act to include persons who, though not citizens of 

6 the United States, owe permanent allegiance to the 

7 United States. 

8 (3) For more than 103 years, American 

9 Samoans who are United States nationals have al10 ways demonstrated their loyalty and allegiance to 

11 the United States. On April 17, 1900, the village 

12 chiefs of Tutuila ceded their islands to the United 

13 States. On July 16, 1904, the village chiefs of 

14 Manu’a did the same. On February 20, 1929, the 

15 United States ratified the Treaty of Cession of 

16 Tutuila and the Treaty of Cession of Manu’a. 

17 (4) Since ratification of the Treaties of Cession, 

18 many American Samoans who are United States na19 tionals have joined the United States Armed Forces 

20 and fought for the United States during World War 

21 II, the Korean, Vietnam, and Persian Gulf wars, 

22 and most recently in Iraq. 

23 (5) However, in order for American Samoans 

24 who are United States nationals to become United 

25 States citizens, they must follow the same procedure 
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1 as aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence. 

2 This procedure requires, among other steps, an ap3 plication, fingerprinting, an interview, an English 

4 language and civics examination, and participation 

5 in an oath ceremony. The procedure may take years 

6 to complete. 

7 (6) Given that American Samoa’s education 

8 system is structured to closely resemble that of pub9 lic schools in the United States, that courses on 

10 United States history, civics, and government are 

11 thoroughly taught, that English is the language of 

12 public school instruction, and that United States na13 tionals by definition owe permanent allegiance to the 

14 United States, it is in the national interest that 

15 United States nationals be allowed to become United 

16 States citizens by more expeditious means. 

17 SEC. 2. NATURALIZATION FOR UNITED STATES NATIONALS. 

18 (a) ELIGIBILITY FOR UNITED STATES NATIONALS

19 TO BECOME UNITED STATES CITIZENS.—Section 325 of 

20 the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1436) is 

21 amended to read as follows: 

22 ‘‘ELIGIBILITY FOR NATURALIZATION FOR NATIONALS OF

23 THE UNITED STATES

24 ‘‘SEC. 325. A person not a citizen who owes perma25 nent allegiance to the United States may, if the person 
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1 becomes a resident of any State, be naturalized (and fur2 nished by the Secretary of Homeland Security with a cer3 tificate of citizenship) upon—

4 ‘‘(1) establishing to the satisfaction of the Sec5 retary of Homeland Security that the person is a na6 tional of the United States; and 

7 ‘‘(2) taking and subscribing before an immigra8 tion officer within the United States to the oath of 

9 allegiance required by this Act of an applicant for 

10 naturalization.’’. 

11 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of contents 

12 of the Immigration and Nationality Act is amended by 

13 amending the item relating to section 325 to read as fol14 lows:

‘‘Sec. 325. Eligibility for naturalization for nationals of the United States.’’.

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