Neil Young's quest to become an American citizen was anything but smooth. As the Canadian icon faced a barrage of bureaucratic obstacles, his wife points fingers at the Trump administration.
- Apr 17, 2025
AceShowbiz - Actress Daryl Hannah, married to Neil Young since 2018, opened up about the hurdles her husband faced in securing U.S. citizenship. She blamed it on President Donald Trump's administration policies.
Speaking to the BBC, Hannah claimed, "They tried every trick in the book to mess him up, and made him keep coming back to be re-interviewed and re-interviewed."
Born in Toronto in 1945, Neil Young relocated to the U.S. in 1966. It wasn't until 1970 that he secured a green card, having lived and worked illegally for a few years. However, he only applied for full citizenship almost five decades later, aiming to vote in the 2020 presidential election.
The process, initially appearing straightforward after Young passed the citizenship test, hit a snag when past marijuana use flagged him under a revamped "good moral character" clause.
Young discussed these delays in 2019, attributing the complications to an update by Jeff Sessions, Trump's first Attorney General.
"I have been told that I must do another test, due to my use of marijuana and how some people who smoke it have exhibited a problem," Young wrote on his website, expressing frustration over the unexpected setback.
He added, "I sincerely hope I have exhibited good moral character and will be able to vote my conscience on Donald J. Trump and his fellow American candidates."
Despite the obstacles, Young eventually secured his U.S. citizenship in January 2020. He celebrated by registering to vote as a Democrat, "I'm happy to report I'm in!"
Yet, with Trump's administration intensifying its crackdown on immigration - including the detention and deportation of visa and green card holders - Young's fears about his future access to the U.S. grew.
Young, who has been vocal in his criticism of Trump, worried about potential repercussions when returning from his European tour, which includes major festivals like Glastonbury and Montreux.
"If I talk about Donald J. Trump, I may be one of those returning to America who is barred or put in jail to sleep on a cement floor with an aluminum blanket," he cautioned on his website.
Despite these fears, Hannah remains optimistic about Young's unhindered return due to his status as a U.S. citizen. "They've been detaining people who have green cards or visas - which is hideous and horrifying - but they have not, so far, been refusing to let American citizens back in the country, so I don't think that's going to happen," she reassured in her interview.
As Young prepares for his upcoming U.S. tour dates in 2025, fans are hopeful he'll continue to rock freely without further legal entanglements.
