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Justin Bieber Granted U.S. Citizenship

By Brett Snider, Esq. on April 01, 2014 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Pop singer Justin Bieber has been granted U.S. citizenship, silencing the hundreds of thousands of Americans who petitioned the White House to have him deported.

The Biebs will still have to worry about paparazzi and future DUI court dates, but after a private concert and an impromptu ceremony this morning, the hashtag #DeportBieber is officially #2000andLate.

How did the Canadian singer, who's already sung his way into Americans' hearts, officially become an American citizen?

Bieber Gets 'Fast Track' to Citizenship

Though he's a pop sensation here in America, Bieber was feeling a bit less than American after his DUI in January had much of the country calling for his deportation. Bieber, 20, was born in Ontario, Canada, and was believed to have been in the United States on O-1 performer's visa.

As the #DeportBieber petition became the "second most popular" in the Obama administration's history, outlets like The Washington Times called on the president to take action. Dodging rumors that he was planning to marry on-again-off-again girlfriend Selena Gomez for citizenship, Bieber must have felt pressure to take some sort of drastic action.

That may explain why President Barack Obama signed an executive order early this morning, immediately granting the Canadian-born pop star citizenship.

Executive Order After Private Concert

After Michelle Obama reached out to Bieber's mother in February, advising her to stick by her son, Bieber apparently hatched a plan.

Less than two months later, the "Boyfriend" singer arrived at the White House just after midnight on April 1st, performing a four-hour private concert for the Obamas. "I was blown away," President Obama tweeted at 4:01 a.m. "People think Malia and Sasha are big fans, but I'm definitely #BelieberinChief."

The impromptu concert was intended as a thank-you for the First Lady's kind words, but the oft-troubled pop star's cherubic face and soothing voice had a much greater effect. President Obama noted that he's often been criticized for his use of executive orders, but was quoted as saying, "I'd be a fool to allow my idol to be deported."

"I think it was right during the second encore of 'Baby' that it hit me," Obama explained to ex-CNN host Piers Morgan (whose critics also unsuccessfully petitioned the White House to get him deported). "On this day of all days, I need to make this kid a citizen!"

Citizen Bieber a Slippery Slope?

Critics warn that this use of an executive order to grant citizenship could be a slippery slope, giving the president power to grant citizenship like pardons.

In the interest of parity, and to prove this isn't just an April Fool's joke, President Obama's next executive order will remove a Canadian-born music idol from the United States. Sources close to the White House suggest "Citizen of the Planet" Alanis Morissette is likely at the top of the list.

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