List of naturalized American citizens


Citizenship of the United States of America can be acquired in different ways, one of those being naturalization.

Art and literature

Authors

Architects

Journalists

Painters

Sculptors

Writers

  • Isabel Allende – Born in Chile. Became an American citizen in 1993.
  • Svetlana Alliluyeva – Born and raised in Soviet Union. Became a U.S. citizen in 1978.
  • Flavio Alves – Born and raised in Brazil. Became a U.S. citizen in 2010.
  • Isaac Asimov – Born in Russia, moved to the U.S. at the age of 3 becoming a citizen at the age of 8 in 1928.
  • Anna Astvatsaturian Turcotte – Born in Azerbaijan and raised between there, Armenia and the United States. Became a U.S. citizen in 1997.
  • W. H. Auden – Born and raised in United Kingdom. Became a U.S. citizen in 1946.
  • Isaac Bashevis Singer – Born and raised in Poland.
  • Vicki Baum – Born and raised in Austria. Became a U.S. citizen in 1938.
  • Saul Bellow – Born and raised in Canada. Became a U.S. citizen in 1941.
  • Helena Blavatsky – Born and raised in Russia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1878
  • Joseph Brodsky – Born and raised in Soviet Union. Became a U.S. citizen in 1977.
  • Carlos Castaneda – Born in Peru. Became a U.S. citizen in 1957.
  • James Clavell – Born and raised in Australia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1963.
  • Bernard Cornwell – Born and raised in United Kingdom.
  • Ève Curie – Born and raised in France before becoming an American citizen in 1958
  • Junot Díaz – Born in Dominican Republic. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1974.
  • Anu Garg – Born in India. Became a U.S. citizen in 2008.
  • Olga Grushin – Born and raised in Russia. Became an American citizen in 2002.
  • Claude McKay – Born in Jamaica. Became a U.S. citizen in 1940.
  • Walter Mehring – Born and raised in Germany.
  • Vladimir Nabokov – Born and raised in Russia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1945.
  • Otto Plath – Born and raised in Germany. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1900.
  • Ayn Rand – Born and raised in Russia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1931.
  • David Rakoff – Born in Canada. Became a U.S. citizen in 2003.
  • Erich Maria Remarque – Born and raised in Germany. Immigrated to the U.S. in 1939 and became a citizen in 1947.
  • Elie Wiesel – Born in Romania. Became a U.S. citizen in 1963.
  • Frances Wright – Born in Scotland. Became a U.S. citizen in 1825.

Business

Education

Entrepreneurs

  • Steve Chen – Born in Taïwan and immigrated to the U.S. in 1985.
  • Jawed Karim – Born and raised in Germany.
  • Iqbal Quadir – Born and raised in Bangladesh. Became a U.S. citizen later in life.

Fashion

Fashion designers

Models

  • Heidi Albertsen – Born and raised in Denmark. Became a U.S. citizen in 2016.
  • Camila Alves – Born in Brazil. Became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
  • Alessandra Ambrosio – Born and raised in Brazil. She became a U.S. citizen in 2020.
  • Moran Atias – Born and raised in Israel. Became a U.S. citizen in 2017.
  • Xenia Deli – Born and raised in Moldova.
  • Iman – Born in Somalia and raised in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Moved to the U.S. in 1976.
  • Heidi Klum – Born and raised in Germany. Became a U.S. citizen in 2008.
  • Karolína Kurková – Born and raised in Czechoslovakia. Later became a naturalized U.S. citizen.
  • China Machado – Born in China, raised in China, South America and Spain before coming to the U.S.
  • Marite Ozers – Born in Latvia and moved to the U.S. in 1945.
  • Paulina Porizkova – Born and raised in Czechoslovakia and Sweden. Moved to the U.S. in 1984.
  • Claudia Romani – Born and raised in Italy. Became a U.S. citizen in 2019.
  • Anne Vyalitsyna – Born and raised in Russia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2013.

Inventors

  • Itzhak Bentov – Born and raised in Czechoslovakia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1962.
  • George Garrett – Born and raised in United Kingdom. Became a U.S. citizen in 1902.
  • Alexander Graham Bell – Born in Scotland. Became a U.S. citizen in 1882.
  • Leo Gerstenzang – Born in Poland. Became a U.S. citizen in 1919.
  • James Hillier – Born in Canada. Became a U.S. citizen in 1945.
  • Francis F. Lee – Born and raised in China. Became an American citizen in 1954.
  • Fritz Karl Preikschat – Born and raised in Germany. Became a U.S. citizen in 1962.
  • Nikola Tesla – Born in Austrian Empire to a family from Serbia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1891.
  • Arthur Wynne – Born and raised in United Kingdom. Became American in 1920.

Media tycoons

  • Rupert Murdoch – Born and raised in Australia. Became an American citizen in 1985.

Real estate

Crime figures

Entertainment

Actors

Actresses

Comedians

  • Samantha Bee – Born and raised in Canada. Became a U.S. citizen in 2014.
  • Michael Blackson – Born and raised in Liberia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2021.
  • Selma Diamond – Born and raised in Canada.
  • Bob Hope – Born in United Kingdom and arrived in USA in 1907.
  • Tyler Labine – Born and raised in Canada.
  • John Oliver – Born and raised in United Kingdom. Became a U.S. citizen in 2019.
  • Yakov Smirnoff – Born in Soviet Union. Became a U.S. citizen in 1986.

Dancers

Directors

Producers

WWE

Law enforcement

Media figures

Social media

  • Hila Klein – Born in Israel. Became a U.S. citizen in 2019.
  • Lele Pons – Born in Venezuela. Became a U.S. citizen in 2019.

Television

Military

Musicians

Singers

Composers

Pianists

Politics

Activists

Diplomats

Political science

Politicians

Religious figures

Science and academia

Astronomy

Biology

Chemistry

Economics

Engineering

Mathematics

Medicine

  • Gertie F. Marx – Born and raised in Germany. Immigrated to New York in 1937 and became a U.S. citizen sometime after.

Meteorology

Philosophy

Physics

Psychology

Sports

American football

Athletics

Baseball

  • Jason Bay – Born in Canada. Became a U.S. citizen in 2009.
  • Bert Blyleven – Born in Netherlands.
  • Orlando Cabrera – Born in Colombia. Became an American citizen in 2011.
  • Robinson Canó – Born and raised in Dominican Republic. Became a U.S. citizen in 2012.
  • Rod Carew – Born in Panama Canal Zone. Became a U.S. citizen in 2024.
  • Carlos Carrasco – Born and raised in Venezuela. Became a U.S. citizen in 2016.
  • Aroldis Chapman – Born in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 2016.
  • Eduardo Escobar – Born and raised in Venezuela. Became a U.S. citizen in 2023.
  • Yunel Escobar – Born and raised in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 2017.
  • José Fernández – Born in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
  • Dick Fowler – Born in Canada. Became a U.S. citizen in 1949.
  • Ozzie Guillén – Born and raised in Venezuela. Became a U.S. citizen in 2006.
  • Félix Hernández – Born in Venezuela. Became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
  • José Iglesias – Born in Cuba. Became an American citizen in 2018.
  • Leonys Martín – Born and raised in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
  • Oscar Mercado – Born in Colombia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
  • David Ortiz – Born and raised in Dominican Republic. Became a U.S. citizen in 2008.
  • Brayan Peña – Born and raised in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 2009.
  • Eddie Pérez – Born and raised in Venezuela. Became a U.S. citizen in 2014.
  • Tony Pérez – Born and raised in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 1971.
  • Plácido Polanco – Born in Dominican Republic. Became a U.S. citizen in 2008.
  • Yasiel Puig – Born in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 2019.
  • Albert Pujols – Born in Dominican Republic. Became a U.S. citizen in 2007.
  • José Quintana – Born and raised in Colombia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2024.
  • Hanley Ramírez – Born and raised in Dominican Republic. Became a U.S. citizen in 2019.
  • Manny Ramirez – Born in Dominican Republic. Became a U.S. citizen in 2004.
  • Mariano Rivera – Born and raised in Panama. Became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
  • Euclides Rojas – Born and raised in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 2000.
  • Chico Ruiz – Born in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 1972.
  • Carlos Santana – Born in Dominican Republic. Became a U.S. citizen in 2019.
  • Fernando Valenzuela – Born and raised in Mexico. Became a U.S. citizen in 2015.

Basketball

Boxing

Climbing

  • Fritz Wiessner – Born and raised in Germany. Became a U.S. citizen in 1935.

Figure skating

Golf

  • Tommy Armour – Born and raised in United Kingdom specifically Scotland. Became a U.S. citizen in 1942.
  • Bobby Cruickshank
  • Harry Cooper
  • Jim Ferrier – Born and raised in Australia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1944.
  • Jenny Lidback – Born in Peru to parents from Sweden. Became a U.S. citizen in 2003.
  • Pearl Sinn – Born in South Korea. Became a U.S. citizen at the age of 14.
  • Macdonald Smith – Born and raised in United Kingdom specifically Scotland. Became a U.S. citizen in 1918.
  • Annika Sörenstam – Born and raised in Sweden. Became a U.S. citizen in 2006.

Gymnastics

Ice hockey

Mixed martial arts

Motor sports

Rugby

Skateboarding

  • Letícia Bufoni – Born and raised in Brazil. Became a U.S. citizen in 2021.
  • Bob Burnquist – Born and raised in Brazil to an American father and a Brazilian mother.

Soccer / association football

  • Freddy Adu – Born in Ghana. Became a U.S. citizen in 2003.
  • Juan Agudelo – Born in Colombia. Arrived to U.S. in 1999.
  • Osvaldo Alonso – Born and raised in Cuba. Became a U.S. citizen in 2012.
  • Vlatko Andonovski – Born in modern-day North Macedonia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
  • Hadji Barry – Born and raised in Guinea. Became a U.S. citizen in 2018.
  • Fernando Clavijo – Born in Uruguay. Became a U.S. citizen in 1987.
  • Jeff Cunningham – Born in Jamaica. Became an American citizen in 2001.
  • Emmanuel D'Andrea – Born in Venezuela, raised in Puerto Rico. Became a U.S. citizen at the age of 10.
  • Mix Diskerud – Born in Norway to a Norwegian father and an American mother.
  • Benny Feilhaber – Born in Brazil. Arrived in U.S. in 1991.
  • Elena Gracinda Santos – Born in South Africa. Moved to U.S. when she was a child.
  • Baggio Hušidić – Born and raised in Yugoslavia. Became a U.S. citizen while in college.
  • Donna-Kay Henry – Born in Jamaica. Moved to U.S. in 1999.
  • Dema Kovalenko – Born and raised in Soviet Union. Moved to U.S. in 1992.
  • Sydney Leroux – Born and raised in Canada. Moved to U.S. in 2005.
  • Carlos Llamosa – Born in Colombia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1998.
  • Catarina Macario – Born in Brazil. Became a U.S. citizen in 2020.
  • Kekuta Manneh – Born in Gambia. Became an American citizen in 2016.
  • Mick McDermott – Born and raised in United Kingdom. Became a U.S. citizen in 1996.
  • Janusz Michallik – Born in Poland. Became a U.S. citizen in 1991.
  • Darlington Nagbe – Born in Liberia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2015.
  • Teresa Noyola – Born in Mexico. Moved to U.S. in 1993.
  • Brian Quinn – Born and raised in United Kingdom.
  • Andrew Parkinson – Born and raised in South Africa. Moved to U.S. in 1980.
  • Hugo Pérez – Born in El Salvador. Became a U.S. citizen as a kid.
  • Preki – Born in Yugoslavia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1996.
  • Tab Ramos – Born and raised in Uruguay. Moved to U.S. in 1977.
  • David Regis – Born in Martinique. Became a U.S. citizen in 1998.
  • Roy Wegerle – Born and raised in South Africa. Became a U.S. citizen in 1991.
  • Gedion Zelalem – Born in Germany to parents from Ethiopia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2014.
  • Kia Zolgharnain – Born in Iran. Became a U.S. citizen in 1994.

Swimming

  • John Davies – Born and raised in Australia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1960.
  • Mariya Koroleva – Born in Soviet Union. Moved to U.S. when she was a child.
  • Lenny Krayzelburg – Born and raised in Ukraine. Became an American citizen in 1995.
  • Jay Litherland – Born and raised in Japan. Became a U.S. citizen while in high school.
  • Philip Scholz – Born and raised in Germany. Became a U.S. citizen in 2007.
  • Darian Townsend – Born and raised in South Africa. Became a U.S. citizen in 2014.
  • Arkady Vyatchanin – Born and raised in Russia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2017.
  • Otto Wahle – Born in Austrian Empire. Became a U.S. citizen in 1906.
  • Alberto Zorrilla – Born and raised in Argentina. Became a U.S. citizen in 1954.

Tennis

  • Alex Bogomolov Jr. – Born and raised in Soviet Union. Became a U.S. citizen in 2002.
  • Kevin Curren – Born and raised in South Africa. Became a U.S. citizen 1985.
  • Mariaan de Swardt – Born and raised in South Africa. Became a U.S. citizen in 2006.
  • Amer Delić – Born and raised in Yugoslavia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2003.
  • Edward Dewhurst – Born and raised in Australia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1924.
  • Cliff Drysdale – Born and raised in South Africa. Became a U.S. citizen following retirement of tennis career.
  • Tommy Haas – Born and raised in West Germany, and then Germany. Became a U.S. citizen in 2010.
  • Liezel Huber – Born in South Africa. Became a U.S. citizen in 2007.
  • Anna Kournikova – Born in Soviet Union. Became a U.S. citizen in 2010.
  • Johan Kriek – Born in South Africa. Became a U.S. citizen in 1982.
  • Denis Kudla – Born in Ukraine but raised in the U.S. Became a U.S. citizen during his childhood.
  • Varvara Lepchenko – Born in Soviet Union. Became an American citizen in 2012.
  • Ivan Lendl – Born and raised in Czechoslovakia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1992.
  • Tetiana Luzhanska – Born and raised in Soviet Union. Became a U.S. citizen in 2012.
  • Molla Mallory – Born and raised in Norway. Became a U.S. citizen in 1919.
  • Martina Navratilova – Born and raised in Czechoslovakia. Became an American citizen in 1981.
  • Alex Olmedo – Born in Peru. Became a U.S. citizen later in life.
  • Bernarda Pera – Born and raised in Croatia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2013.
  • Fred Perry – Born and raised in United Kingdom. Became a U.S. citizen in 1939.
  • Monica Seles – Born in Yugoslavia. Became a U.S. citizen in 1994.
  • Anna Tatishvili – Born in the country of Georgia. Became a U.S. citizen in 2014.

Volleyball

Weightlifting

Winter Sports

Wrestling

  • Edwin Bibby – Born and raised in United Kingdom. Became a U.S. citizen in 1900.
  • Drew McIntyre – Born and raised in Scotland. Became a U.S. citizen in 2023.
  • Ildar Hafizov – Born and raised in Uzbekistan. Became a U.S. citizen after enlisting in the U.S. Army in 2015.
  • Rocky Johnson – Born and raised in Canada.
  • Becky Lynch – Born and raised in Ireland. Became a U.S. citizen in 2024.

Works cited

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