Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican from Ohio, has introduced a highly controversial bill aimed at ending dual citizenship for U.S. nationals — a move that could affect millions of people who hold more than one nationality. The proposal is titled the “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025.”
The bill states that U.S. citizens must be fully loyal to America alone, without any allegiance to another country. It includes a requirement for individuals who are found to possess dual citizenship at the time the law is enacted to submit a written renunciation of their foreign citizenship — or their U.S. citizenship. This information was reported by Newsweek.
New Bill Seeks Clear Rules for Americans Renouncing Citizenship
According to the bill, holding both U.S. citizenship and a foreign citizenship can create conflicts of interest and divided national loyalties. If the legislation passes, any American who obtains a foreign citizenship afterward would be considered to have automatically renounced their U.S. citizenship.
The law would require the State Department to develop clear procedures for processing renunciation statements and ensuring proper enforcement, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security and the Attorney General. These procedures would ensure that anyone who loses U.S. citizenship is documented and treated according to immigration laws.
The exact number of people who would be affected is unknown, since the U.S. government does not require citizens to report dual nationality, nor does it maintain an official registry. However, estimates suggest that between 500,000 and 5.7 million Americans hold more than one citizenship. Other reports indicate that roughly 40% of Americans are eligible for dual citizenship, though eligibility does not necessarily mean they possess it.
Senator Moreno, who was born in Colombia and later renounced his Colombian citizenship, was elected to the Senate in 2024 with support from former President Donald Trump. Among those who could be affected by the bill are First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron, who hold both U.S. and Slovenian citizenship, according to a 2024 book.
Moreno Pushes Controversial Bid to End Dual Citizenship
In his remarks, Moreno said:“One of the greatest honors of my life was becoming a U.S. citizen at eighteen. It was an honor to pledge allegiance to the United States alone. Being an American is a privilege, and if someone wants to be American, it should be all or nothing. It’s time to end dual citizenship once and for all.”
Legal experts warn that the bill could face constitutional challenges if passed. The U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized dual citizenship as a legitimate legal status, and American citizenship cannot be taken away unless the person voluntarily chooses to renounce it. This raises questions about whether the bill could be enforced, particularly for individuals unwilling to give up their foreign nationality or those unaware of the new law.
For now, the bill’s future remains uncertain as it awaits debate in the Senate. The proposal is expected to spark intense discussions over national loyalty, civil rights, and the realities of a multicultural society that includes millions of Americans with transnational ties. Many observers view the bill as one of the most controversial legislative proposals in decades because of its broad implications for national identity and personal freedoms.