united-states immigration
What should a dual citizen do at a US Border Patrol interior checkpoint?
<p>This question concerns <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Border_Patrol_interior_checkpoints" rel="nofollow noreferrer">United States Border Patrol interior checkpoints</a>.  These checkpoints are located away from the external border, but within 100 miles of it, at which traffic may be stopped in order to check the immigration status of the occupants.</p>

<p>Noting 18 USC 1001 (see <a href="https://law.stackexchange.com/questions/7862/is-it-legal-to-lie-to-a-us-federal-law-enforcement-officer">my related question</a> for more information), I wonder how a dual citizen should react when faced with one of the usual questions asked by border patrol officers at these checkpoints:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Are you a US citizen?</p>

<ul>
<li>For a person who is a citizen of the United States and at least one other country, is it okay simply to answer <em>yes</em>?</li>
<li>For a person who is a citizen of multiple countries, not including the United States, is it okay simply to answer <em>no</em>?</li>
</ul></li>
<li><p>What country are you a citizen of?</p>

<ul>
<li>Is it necessary to disclose all countries of citizenship when responding to the second question?  Does it matter if one of those countries is the US?</li>
</ul></li>
</ol>

<ol>
<li><p>Yes. A multi-nation citizen who has US citizenship has equal US citizenship with every other citizen; therefore the answer to this binary question is "Yes". The citizenship(s) of anyone who does not have US citizenship is irrelevant to this question; thus, the answer to this binary question is "No".</p></li>
<li><p>Yes. The main point here is to determine if you have the relevant documents and permissions to be legally present in the US. If you are a US citizen, a) this makes the process easier for you and b) avoids any possible issues if evidence is found of citizenship from another country, which will make immigration think that A) you are not a US citizen and b) you lied to them. Most people have only a single citizenship. That is the default mindset of immigration. There's no downside for you to inform them; there may be additional difficulties, delays, and scrutiny if you do not.</p>

<p>If you are not a US citizen, most of the same applies. Additionally, lying (even by omission) can be grounds to have your legal status revoked. </p></li>
</ol>

<p>In summary, if you have the legal <em>right</em> to be in the US (e.g. US citizen, legal resident) being fully honest cannot hurt you, and can make the process smoother. If you have legal <em>permission</em> to be in the US, being fully honest will help prevent that permission from being revoked.</p>

<p>You shouldn't have any problems or worries if you are lawfully in the US. A US Citizen (and dual nationals) should just state their US Citizenship unless asked for more info (which probably won't happen).</p>

<p>Non-US Citizens should be honest and be able to state what their lawful status in the US is based on.</p>

<p>Note: a non-US Citizen should never claim to be a US Citizen. This can result in removal (deportation) and a permanent bar to reentering the US.</p>
