Glenn argues that it is not just the state who acts as a gatekeeper of citizenship but also private citizens. She states that formal citizenship pertains to the law and polity, while substantive citizenship encompasses the ability to act upon the rights citizenship entails: “Citizenship is not just a matter of formal legal status; it is a matter of belonging, including recognition by other members of the community.

Saher Selod, Forever Suspect_ Racialized…, loc. 468