how does Abelardo de la Espriella have us citizenship

Abelardo de la Espriella appears to have U.S. citizenship because multiple reports say he became a naturalized U.S. citizen after living in Florida for more than ten years, and one report says he received it in 2023.

What’s known

• He is described as a dual citizen of Colombia and the United States.

• The New York Times says he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2023 after over a decade in Florida.

• A Spanish-language report says he announced on social media that he had been granted U.S. citizenship after years of living in the United States.

Why it matters

His U.S. citizenship became a political issue because he was running for Colombia’s presidency, and some coverage framed it as unusual for a presidential contender to hold U.S. nationality.

Plain answer

So the short answer is: he seems to have gotten U.S. citizenship through naturalization, not by birth.

TL;DR: Reports indicate Abelardo de la Espriella became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2023 after long residence in Florida.