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Peter J. Spiro

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Peter John Spiro is an American legal scholar whose specialities include international law and U.S. constitutional law. He is a… more

H-index: 26
Political science 71%
Sociology 12%
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by Maarten Vink — Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro

maartenpvink.bsky.social
“Totally absurd but probably will stick” is the motto of the T admin.

It’s just one more grift scheme.
peterspiro.bsky.social
Peter Spiro @peterspiro.bsky.social · 14d
So they found a legal workaround for the “Gold Card” - anyone who donates a million bucks automatically qualifies as an “alien of extraordinary ability”. Totally absurd but probably will stick. No one will have standing to challenge.
The Gold Card
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.  Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
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by Peter J. Spiro — Reposted by: Maarten Vink, Jo Shaw

peterspiro.bsky.social
Category capped at 40k visas a year. This will probably create backlogs and processing delays for aliens who actually have extraordinary ability
peterspiro.bsky.social
Peter Spiro @peterspiro.bsky.social · 14d
So they found a legal workaround for the “Gold Card” - anyone who donates a million bucks automatically qualifies as an “alien of extraordinary ability”. Totally absurd but probably will stick. No one will have standing to challenge.
The Gold Card
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.  Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
2 2 7

by Peter J. Spiro

peterspiro.bsky.social
Back to this from a couple of weeks ago. Glad to know that Kimmel has a Plan B if he needs it.
peterspiro.bsky.social
Peter Spiro @peterspiro.bsky.social · Sep 5
"I love Italy. I like the idea of being a citizen there. And mostly what I like to do is bring my passport to parties and show it to people and make them jealous."
Jimmy Kimmel Addresses Rumors He’s Fleeing Trump’s America
MAGA world melted down after Kimmel told Sarah Silverman he had obtained Italian citizenship.
www.thedailybeast.com
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by Peter J. Spiro — Reposted by: Maarten Vink

peterspiro.bsky.social
So they found a legal workaround for the “Gold Card” - anyone who donates a million bucks automatically qualifies as an “alien of extraordinary ability”. Totally absurd but probably will stick. No one will have standing to challenge.
The Gold Card
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.  Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
1 2 9

by Peter J. Spiro

peterspiro.bsky.social
But I'm not a tax lawyer so there might be some loophole here that I'm not seeing.
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by Peter J. Spiro

peterspiro.bsky.social
Ah very interesting. Another reason to suspect that she didn't renounce - the expatriation tax. After renouncing she would have the same status as someone who never had citizenship. Not sure how she retains US "residence" without a green card, which she couldn't apply for until after renunciation.
1 1

by Peter J. Spiro

peterspiro.bsky.social
"I love Italy. I like the idea of being a citizen there. And mostly what I like to do is bring my passport to parties and show it to people and make them jealous."
Jimmy Kimmel Addresses Rumors He’s Fleeing Trump’s America
MAGA world melted down after Kimmel told Sarah Silverman he had obtained Italian citizenship.
www.thedailybeast.com
3

by Peter J. Spiro

peterspiro.bsky.social
Anyone know if Naomi Osaka actually relinquished her US citizenship? Her name never showed up on the renunciation list and Japan now quietly tolerant of birth dual citizens maintaining the status into adulthood.
Why does Naomi Osaka play for Japan? Explaining tennis star's relinquished USA dual citizenship
The tennis star represents Japan on the national stage.
sports.yahoo.com
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by Peter J. Spiro

peterspiro.bsky.social
Crazy story at the intersection of 14th amendment and citizenship qualifications for the franchise.
10 Alaskans born in American Samoa plead not guilty in voting case highlighting citizenship issues
Ten Alaska residents pleaded not guilty Thursday to voter misconduct or other charges in cases that have renewed attention on the complex citizenship status of people born in the U.S. territory of Ame...
www.yahoo.com
1 3

by Maarten Vink — Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Steve Peers

maartenpvink.bsky.social
Well said, @peterspiro.bsky.social in @nytimes.com on Marco Rubio’s 2016 defense of birthright citizenship.

“There’s no reason why the argument he put to work in 2016 couldn’t be put to work today against the Trump executive order,” Professor Spiro wrote.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/u...
Marco Rubio Once Filed a Brief Embracing Birthright Citizenship
www.nytimes.com
7 15

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro

acyn.bsky.social
Trump holding up a gold card with his face on it: For $5 million, this can be yours
820 520 2K

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro

pbsnews.org
The U.S. Senate confirmed celebrity doctor and heart surgeon Mehmet Oz on Thursday to lead the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The vote was 53-45.
160 53 180

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro

livewildly.bsky.social
A friend has been eligible to apply for citizenship in Sweden for three years. She’s going to do it now because having dual citizenship with an EU country feels safer right now.

My response?

“Dual citizenship is the new American Dream.”
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Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Patti Tamara Lenard

globalcit.bsky.social
❗New Entry❗

Reparative citizenship may aim to right past wrongs, but @peterspiro.bsky.social argues it actually weakens the foundational concept of citizenship itself 🛂⚖️

It is unsentimental, instrumental, detached from the community and erodes civic ties 🧑‍🤝‍🧑🚫

Read here 🔗 tinyurl.com/dh6pkpyt
Citizenship as Reparations: Should the victims of historical injustice be offered membership? - Page 6 of 6 - Globalcit
Kickoff contribution by David Owen and Rainer Bauböck. Comments by Jocelyn Kane and Patti Tamara Lenard, Ashley Mantha-Hollands , Timothy Jacob-Owens , Lior Erezand Peter Spiro Read More ...
tinyurl.com
4 6

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro

stevevladeck.bsky.social
With alarming reports of U.S. citizens being “deported” (which is … not a thing), today’s “One First” looks at the ways the government can *lawfully* revoke citizenship—and the legal and practical obstacles it would (and should) encounter if it tried to do so:

www.stevevladeck.com/p/146-denatu...
146. Denaturalization and Expatriation
There is no lawful way to "deport" U.S. citizens. And although citizenship can be revoked, any attempt by the government would run into significant statutory, constitutional, and practical obstacles.
www.stevevladeck.com
64 610 1.8K

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Jelena Džankić

simonfrcox.bsky.social
My blog on yesterday’s EU Court judgment outlawing “commercial” selling of EU citizenship verfassungsblog.de/the-eu-free-... at @verfassungsblog.de
The EU Free Market Does Not Extend to Citizenship
url.uk.m.mimecastprotect.com
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Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro

atrupar.com
Lutnick: "The attention on the Trump gold card -- I mean, it makes me very popular. Last night, I was out for dinner and somebody came up and said, 'Can I buy 10?' And I'm like, that's pretty good, that's $50 million for dinner. So it's paying for my dinner."
320 240 780

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro

theage.nzcow.com
📢 The prime minister has politely declined an offer of honorary citizenship from the Italian city of Barletta due to legal concerns the gesture could conflict with the Constitution.
Albanese declines offer of ‘honorary citizenship’ from father’s Italian hometown
www.theage.com.au

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro

stevevladeck.bsky.social
Super-quick take while reading the ruling:

This is going to be a much bigger deal for challenges to *other* Trump policies than to birthright citizenship (where it's likely that lower courts will still be able to block the policy on a nationwide basis even after this ruling).

*That's* the import.
stevevladeck.bsky.social
Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · Jun 27
First #SCOTUS ruling today is birthright citizenship.

Justice Barrett, for a 6-3 majority (with the three Dem. appointees dissenting) holds that universal injunctions are only appropriate when necessary to provide "complete" relief to parties, and stays these injunctions insofar as they go further:
www.supremecourt.gov
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Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Suzanne Conklin Akbari

jamellebouie.net
i also think that it is only a matter of time before this court rewrites section 1 of the 14th to effectively end birthright citizenship. the 14th amendment is the chief obstacle to a legal regime of tiered citizenship and subordinate castes, and they will not let it stand.
43 870 4.2K

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Mark Hallerberg

maartenpvink.bsky.social
Good to see the new CDU/CSU and SPD coalition 🇩🇪 keeps the main elements of the 2024 modernisation of German citizenship law in place. Incl dual citizenship and 5 yrs residence req. 👏

Only element that is cancelled is the fast-track naturalisation (after 3 yrs) or 'Turbo-Einbürgerung'.
Staatsangehörigkeitsrecht: Wir schaffen die „Turboeinbürgerung“ nach drei Jahren ab. Darüber hinaus halten wir an der Reform des Staatsbürgerschaftsrecht fest.
2 7 12

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Maarten Vink

maartenpvink.bsky.social
Can Trump revoke citizenship, and how often does it happen worldwide?

> No, and too often.

Informative @washingtonpost.com piece drawing on @globalcit.bsky.social data on the regulation of citizenship revokation around the world.

www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Can Trump revoke citizenship, and how often does it happen worldwide?
Trump has threatened to strip some Americans’ citizenship, which many countries allow in the name of security but critics say can lead to weaponization.
www.washingtonpost.com
1 3 10

by Dimitry Kochenov — Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Dimitry Kochenov

profkochenov.bsky.social
🎯spoke to @aljazeera.com on global citizenship apartheid: m.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHS...
Delight to showcase my @mitpress.bsky.social book❗️Brief summary at @icon-s.bsky.social: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
@globalcit.bsky.social @profjacob.bsky.social @weareceu.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
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by Maarten Vink — Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Maarten Vink

maartenpvink.bsky.social
The i UK newspaper asked me what's going on with citizenship policies across European countries. Here's why I think we are at a turning point in Europe when it comes to citizenship through naturalisation. And why that is worrying.

inews.co.uk/news/world/w...
Why it's getting even harder for Brits to become EU citizens
Several countries are looking at increasing residency requirements for citizenship
inews.co.uk
1 6 13

by Maarten Vink — Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Jelena Džankić, Maarten Vink

maartenpvink.bsky.social
Hanging out in Budapest with a great citizenship crowd ❤️

@jdzankic.bsky.social @bronwenmanby.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
Pictured in Budapest from left to right: Maarten Vink, Patricia Jeronimo, Rainer Baubock, Bronwen Manby, Jelena Dzankic, Peter Spiro
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by Peter J. Spiro

peterspiro.bsky.social
Why policing dual nationality makes no sense
Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Is Stripped of Dutch Citizenship
www.nytimes.com
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by Peter J. Spiro

peterspiro.bsky.social
Delighted to join!
maartenpvink.bsky.social
Maarten Vink @maartenpvink.bsky.social · Jul 7
Great to back in Budapest to teach at this year's edition of ‪CEU's summer school on Contestations of Citizenship in Times of Global Democratic Backsliding. Looking forward to exchange insights with participants!

Thanks for the invitation @jdzankic.bsky.social & Szabolcs Pogonyi.

lnkd.in/dqxq-Qn6
2

by Maarten Vink — Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Jelena Džankić, Maarten Vink

maartenpvink.bsky.social
Great to back in Budapest to teach at this year's edition of ‪CEU's summer school on Contestations of Citizenship in Times of Global Democratic Backsliding. Looking forward to exchange insights with participants!

Thanks for the invitation @jdzankic.bsky.social & Szabolcs Pogonyi.

lnkd.in/dqxq-Qn6
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Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro

conorsen.bsky.social
I always found identity/countries of origin in pro tennis to be funny. Like on some level they’re all Floridian once they become pros:
5 1 34

Reposted by: Peter J. Spiro, Timothy Snyder, Timnit Gebru , and 24 more

aoc.bsky.social
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.

This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.

It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
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