The Northern Virginia doctor knows at least that much about his situation. He knows he is no longer considered a citizen of the United States — the place where he was born, went to school and has practiced medicine for more than 30 years — and that he also belongs to no other place.

A letter from a State Department official informed him that he should not have been granted citizenship at the time of his birth because his father was a diplomat with the Embassy of Iran. The letter directed Sobhani to a website where he could apply for lawful permanent residence.

  • qantravon@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    Not that rare, this is a very similar situation to what the DREAM Act was trying to resolve. As of last year, there were more than 500,000 people who qualified.

    • Zak@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      Most of the people the DREAM act was intended to help are not legally stateless, though I’ll grant the human impact is similar.

    • ollieallears@lemmy.world
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      10 months ago

      That is different. DACA’a are born outside the US and have been brought in illegally (without proper documentation). If you entered legally you are not eligible for DACA - and have to leave when you are a non-immigrant turning 21 years of age.

      • qantravon@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        I know it’s technically different, but in both cases you have a person who has lived in the US for most of their life, and is for all intents and purposes an American, but who is not, due to a technicality, a citizen. It is extremely similar.