Please provide a specific cite. I’ve read Bellei, and did not see any clear statement that Bellei was naturalized, not in the majority opinion, though certainly some in the dissent believed it. But it was a necessary assumption to the dissent’s argument, and their argument was rejected.
Nevertheless, if you have a cite to the specific text that makes your point, and if it is in fact a component of the holding, and not just dicta, I would be interested in seeing it. Thanks.
Peace,
SR
Paragraph 54, “Further, it is conceded here both that Congress may withhold citizenship from persons like plaintiff Bellei [6] and may prescribe a period of residence in the United States as a condition precedent without constitutional question.[7]”
[6] At oral argument, plaintiff’s counsel conceded that “Congress need not vest a person in his position with citizenship if it chooses not to do so.”