> In the USA

What the US does to non-citizens outside the USA is a messy area. Inside the USA? The rules are far more clear.

On an individual basis the rules are often vague and selectively enforced.

As a collective institution there was the whole Edward Snowden thing where he pointed out that the NSA had definitely not been following those rules and no one who knew what they were doing seemed particularly keen on stopping them.

That is a big problem but kindof a separate issue. He may have been targeted because he was critical of the government but it's really hard to argue that he didn't do anything against the law. Maybe he should have whistleblower protection but his case isn't as simple as persecution solely for being critical of the government which is what this thread seems to be about.

My point wasn't the treatment of Snowden but rather that the claim that:

> Inside the USA? The rules are far more clear.

Is false. The NSA was/is carrying out a mass spying operation over a number of years and involving hundreds of people that directly contravenes those rules.

> The rules are far more clear.

Can you clarify this? As far as I'm aware, the US govt can dispute anyone's citizenship without recourse, even if you're holding e.g., a valid passport.

From 2016: https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/12/22/504031635...

As far as I know, nothing in this article has changed.

>Can you clarify this? As far as I'm aware, the US govt can dispute anyone's citizenship without recourse, even if you're holding e.g., a valid passport.

Your cite does not support your claim. If Palma had ever had a US passport (expired or not), his situation would never have occurred in the first place.