I don't know what the citizenship laws of South Africa might be.
But I do know the citizenship laws of the United States as they pertain to that period.
A person born on American soil is an American citizen, period. If Indonesia considers him a citizen because he was adopted, that changes nothing -- he is still an American citizen.
And he will stay an American citizen unless and until he renounces that citizenship upon gaining his majority.
Even if he susequently traveled on an Indonesian passport or gained entrance to college as a foreign student, that would not change his status as an American citizen. It might leave him open to some fraud charges, though...
okie01 said, “And he will stay an American citizen unless and until he renounces that citizenship upon gaining his majority.
Even if he susequently traveled on an Indonesian passport or gained entrance to college as a foreign student, that would not change his status as an American citizen. It might leave him open to some fraud charges, though.”
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You’re simply wrong. A person with multiple citizenships, who takes an affirmative step to claim a foreign citizenship AFTER the age of majority, has himself renounced his US citizenship. That may be why the passport files were cauterized. Using a foreign passport after the age of majority is an affirmation of foreign citizenship. This is why the State Dept. says dual and multiple citizenships are problematic.
As for whatever advantage registering at school as an Indonesian or other foreign student might provide: scholarships or grants from that foreign government come to mind.
In the Soetoro divorce papers, it says that the parents (including Lolo) remain responsible for the education of the child over age 18. Indonesian scholarship? Is this why the college records are sealed?