Is this a sovereign citizen thing?

No, the national status movement is not a “sovereign citizen” thing. A national is distinctly different from a sovereign citizen. The term “sovereign citizen” is often used by certain agencies to discredit individuals and is not defined in any statutes or codes. In contrast, a national is defined in legal terms and represents a person owing permanent allegiance to a state. The national status movement seeks to clarify this distinction and promote understanding of true national status.