Document: 344 U.S. 133 73 S.Ct. 135 97 L.Ed. 146 MANDOLIv.ACHESON, Secretary of State. No. 15. Argued Oct. 17, 1952. Decided Nov. 24, Mr. Jack Wasserman, Washington, D.C., for petitioner. Oscar H. Davis, respondent. Justice JACKSON delivered the opinion Court. 1 This case presents but a single question, upon which petitioner and Government are substantially agreed that judgment Court Appeals should be reversed.1 Does United States citizen by birth who foreign law derives from his parents citizenship nation lose residence long continued after attaining majority? 2 Petitioner Mandoli was born in this country, unnaturalized Italian parents. These circumstances made him virtue our Constitution national Italy law. While he suckling, returned to taking with them. At about age fifteen, sought come States; permission refused American Consul at Palermo ground too young take journey unaccompanied. 3 In 1931, saw brief service army. 1937, being 29 or 30 years age, attempted States, rejected because such army service. He renewed effort 1944, same result. 1948, granted certificate identity permitted enter prosecution an action establish citizenship. 4 Judgment District went against on expatriation had resulted two causes: first, contrary contentions, it found voluntary then took oath allegiance King Italy; second, reside majority, thereby electing between dual citizenships favor Italy.2 5 The abandoned first Attorney General ruled one similarly situated could 'only regarded as having been taken under legal compulsion amounting duress.' said, 'The choice violating soldier Fascist no all.'3 Appeals, however, relying largely Perkins v. Elg, 307 325, 59 884, 83 1320, affirmed failure return attainment majority operated extinguish petitioner's citizenship.4 We conclude has not lost 6 It would easy unrewarding point out conflict precept confusion practice side Atlantic, where ideas nationality were ferment during whole Nineteenth Century. Reception common confronted courts doctrine into renounced only consent sovereign. Europen rulers, losing subjects (particularly seamen) New World, adhered fiercely old doctrine. On other hand, prospering migrant's freedom choice, became champion individual's right expatriate himself, contended diplomacy fought land sea. However, personal always recognized own courts, their deference common-law precedent. Finally, Congress, Act July 27, 1868, declared 'the is natural inherent all people, indispensable enjoyment rights life, liberty, pursuit happiness' 'any declaration, instruction, opinion, order, decision any officers government denies, restricts, impairs, questions expatriation, hereby inconsistent fundamental principles government.'5 7 But statute left unanswered many overt acts effect citizens cause involuntary forfeiture Prior 1907, administrators devise answers. 8 Preparatory legislative subject, Congress received report special board. Reviewing judicial decisions, concluded well-established doctrines election cases dealing person board recommended follow what assumed established decisional enact, among things, domiciled state, rebuttable presumption domicile five state.6 proposed merely those possessing instead accepting broad Expatriation 1907 limited naturalized nativeborn citizens.7 9 If petitioner, when full 1928, statutory duty make country permanent if elected citizenship, must result applicable. light foregoing history, we can find obligation imposed Act; indeed, appear proposal impose deliberately rejected.8 10 Nationality 1940,9 though controlling here, shows consistency congressional policy subject burden hazard majority. comprehensive revision codification laws relating prepared request Departments State, Labor. State Department new provision requiring American-born minority nationality, reaching Labor opposed and, consequence, omitted bill. disagreement called attention Congress.10 some respects enlarged grounds loss require nativity elect majority.11 11 applied rule understood Court, supra, Miss Elg American-born, Swedish origin. They her Sweden she four old, remained nonage. By Swedish-American Treaty 1869, resumption repatriated parents, carried minor child. Under deemed expatriated state conformity its laws. Undoubtedly, become Sweden. act within control, eight months twenty-one obtained passport resided something over years. immigration officials decided derivative naturalization deprived put harsh technical test instituting proceedings deport her. That did present properly have question consequences promptly so decisively evidenced resuming here. What held conferred child protection cannot forfeited nonage passive beneficiary proceedings. acquired dual-citizenship suffered expatriation. affirming remain hold mandatory do so. 12 warrant statutes concluding And, since prescribed situation, think dignity confers birthright every withdrawn extinguished except pursuant clear mandate.12 reversed, directions remand entry order declaring States. 13 Reversed ordered. 14 DOUGLAS, whom THE CHIEF JUSTICE, REED, CLARK concur, dissenting. 15 times relevant here 'an state' 34 Stat. 1228, U.S.C. § 17.1 findings 'On May plaintiff Italy.' finding uncontroverted precise surrounding unexplained. All know plaintiff, without protest, inducted Army served there April 14, September 5, 1931. 16 base record, compelled affirm. For plain state. ignores record rests another (cf. concurring, McGrath Kristensen, 340 162, 176, 71 224, 232, 95 173), saying dis duress. basis knowing Mussolini's know, freely gladly. least, it. acted role General, might exercise discretion decide move showing. sit cabinet judges facts records before us. Certiorari opposition, 343 976, 72 1071. D.C. reported. 41 Op.Atty.Gen., Op.No.16. 90 U.S.App.D.C. 1121, 193 F.2d 920. 223, 800, U.S.C.A. 800. H.R.Doc.No.326, 59th Cong., 2d Sess., p. 23; see also 74, 79, 160 et seq. 1228. Administrative practice, involving protections abroad, involves very different considerations while consistent, seems settled apply case. Hackworth, Digest International Law, 371; Nielsen, Some Vexatious Questions Relating Nationality, 20 Col.L.Rev. 840, 954. U.S.C., c. 11, 501 See Hearings House Representatives Committee Immigration Naturalization H.R. 9980, 76th 1st 32. 350 Pub.L.No.414, 82d 66 163, 269, Act, 350, 1482. whether 1940 exclude will amount reserved Kawakita 717, 730—732, 950, 959—960. 1952, 349, 1481.

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