U.S. Senator Introduces Bill That Would Eliminate Dual Citizenship

US Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has introduced the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, a bold proposal aiming to end dual citizenship in the United States. Under the bill, U.S. citizens would no longer be permitted to hold citizenship in another country simultaneously. Instead, they would be required to declare "sole and exclusive allegiance" to the United States. Those currently holding foreign citizenship would face a choice: renounce the non‑U.S. nationality or risk losing their American citizenship — a decision that must be made within a specified time frame under the terms of the bill. 

Proponents of the bill, including Moreno himself, argue that dual citizenship poses inherent risks: divided loyalties, conflicts of interest, and potential security vulnerabilities. Moreno frames the legislation as a reaffirmation of national identity and loyalty, stating that American citizenship should represent an undivided pledge of allegiance. 

The implications of this proposal are far‑reaching. If passed, the bill would force many immigrants — and U.S.-born individuals with foreign heritage — to make a stark choice between the country of their birth or ancestry and their American identity. For families with ties abroad, dual citizenship often offers valuable benefits: ease of travel, ability to own property overseas, access to foreign social services, and the chance to maintain cultural and familial connections across borders. The bill threatens to sever those ties for millions who have relied on dual nationality as a bridge between their roots and their American lives.

Critics of the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 raise serious constitutional and ethical concerns. For decades, dual citizenship has been understood under U.S. law and international norms to be permissible. Detractors warn that forcing citizens to abandon a nationality — especially one they may have acquired by birthright or through parentage — undermines personal liberty and could disproportionately affect immigrant communities. They also argue that renouncing a second nationality under duress, or under threat of legal consequence, may run counter to long‑standing legal precedents.

More practically, the proposed law would create a massive administrative burden for federal agencies. The U.S. Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security would be tasked with establishing procedures for citizens to declare — and potentially renounce — foreign nationality. They would need to track compliance, maintain records, and implement consequences for those who fail to comply. For affected individuals, the window to make decisions and file proper paperwork could be deeply stressful — forcing them to choose between long‑held personal identities and their legal status in the U.S. 

As the bill makes its way through Congress, its supporters and opponents alike are mobilizing. Families with dual heritage are scrambling to understand what it would mean for them. Immigration advocates are preparing to challenge the legislation. And legal scholars are warning that, even if passed, such a law could face constitutional scrutiny. But regardless of its outcome, the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 has thrust the debate over nationality, identity, and allegiance into the spotlight — forcing Americans to reexamine what it means to be a citizen of more than one country.