Jermaine Thomas, born in 1986 on a U.S. Army base in Frankfurt, Germany to a naturalized American father, was deported to Jamaica in May, according to The Austin Chronicle. Despite his ties to the United States and lack of citizenship in any other country, Thomas is now effectively stateless.
Newsweek has reached out to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and legal experts for comment.
Why It Matters
Thomas’ deportation highlights the growing consequences of the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump has vowed to carry out the largest mass deportation effort in American history—targeting not only undocumented immigrants but also legal residents and green card holders. Some, like Thomas, are being deported to countries where they have no citizenship.
A key focus of Trump’s agenda has been to end automatic birthright citizenship under the 14th Amendment. In February, he signed an executive order to restrict birthright citizenship, but implementation was blocked by a nationwide injunction—until last Friday, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal judges can no longer issue such injunctions. The decision opens the door for states to begin enforcing policies that limit birthright citizenship, though the constitutionality of the order remains undecided.
The Background
Jermaine Thomas’ legal status has been under scrutiny for over a decade. In 2013, the Department of Homeland Security issued formal charges of inadmissibility and deportability, citing both immigration violations and a criminal record.
Born to a Kenyan mother and a naturalized U.S. Army father, Thomas entered the United States legally in 1989 as a permanent resident. Court records from 2015 confirm that his father became a U.S. citizen in 1984—two years before Jermaine was born. However, citizenship for children born on overseas military bases is not automatic. According to immigration attorney Margaret Stock, it typically requires a formal application for a “Consular Report of Birth Abroad,” which in Thomas’ case appears to have never been completed.
Thomas’ nationality was listed as Jamaican on his visa application, despite his lack of legal ties to that country. He eventually settled in Texas, where a series of criminal convictions—including assault, theft, and drug charges—triggered deportation proceedings. A federal appeals court ruled that Thomas was not born “in the United States” under the 14th Amendment, and the Supreme Court declined to hear his case, effectively sealing his fate.
What People Are Saying
An ICE spokesperson told Newsweek that Thomas was “a dangerous criminal alien” with multiple convictions, including drug offenses, DUI, assault, robbery, and intimidation. “Dangerous criminal aliens like Mr. Thomas have no place in our communities,” the spokesperson said. “ICE removed Thomas from the U.S. on May 28.”
Thomas, however, painted a very different picture. In an interview with The Austin Chronicle, he said his troubles began after an eviction led to a trespassing charge, which spiraled into ICE detention and deportation. “If you’re in the U.S. Army, and the Army deploys you somewhere, and your child is born there, and then makes a mistake after you pass away—are you okay with them just kicking your child out of the country?” he asked.
Margaret Stock warned that cases like Thomas’ are becoming more common. “There’s going to be a lot of people getting deported who are stateless, and a lot of people born on military bases overseas,” she said.
The Legal Landscape
Children born on overseas military bases do not automatically gain U.S. citizenship. Instead, they must meet specific requirements and complete formal applications. If those steps are skipped—or if errors are made in the process—individuals like Thomas can fall through the cracks.
Thomas’ legal efforts to secure citizenship failed in multiple courts. His criminal convictions, which included domestic assault and robbery, further complicated his case. Though he does not hold citizenship in either Germany or Jamaica, his deportation proceeded under immigration law that allows removal of individuals deemed deportable regardless of statelessness.
Looking Ahead
The Supreme Court’s recent ruling removing nationwide injunctions clears a path for Trump’s birthright citizenship order to be implemented within 30 days, though it will likely still face legal hurdles. Several class-action lawsuits have already been filed in response.
Thomas’ case is a stark reminder of the complex legal gray zones surrounding citizenship, military families, and deportation. As the administration advances its immigration crackdown, more individuals in similar legal limbo may face the same fate.
USCIS on X (formerly Twitter):
“Coming to America and receiving a visa or green card is a privilege… If you advocate for violence, endorse terrorism, or encourage it, you’re no longer eligible to stay in the U.S.”
The legal uncertainty surrounding the executive order—and the fates of people like Jermaine Thomas—continues to fuel national debate over who gets to call America home.
