United States Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has introduced a bill that seeks to eliminate dual citizenship for American nationals, arguing that the current flexibility creates “conflicts of interest and divided loyalties.”

The legislation, dubbed the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, would require U.S. citizens to maintain “sole and exclusive allegiance to the U.S.,” prohibiting simultaneous foreign citizenship or nationality.

“One of the greatest honors of my life was when I became an American citizen at 18, the first opportunity I could do so,” said Moreno, who was born in Colombia. “It was an honor to pledge an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and ONLY to the United States of America. Being an American citizen is an honor and a privilege, and if you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing. It’s time to end dual citizenship for good.”

Currently, U.S. law allows citizens to hold multiple nationalities without renouncing any, a practice upheld by landmark Supreme Court rulings such as Talbot v. Jansen (1795), which affirmed that acquiring foreign citizenship does not automatically forfeit U.S. citizenship, and Afroyim v. Rusk (1967), which held that citizenship cannot be involuntarily revoked except through voluntary surrender.

If passed, the act would take effect 180 days after enactment and include the following measures:

  • Individuals who voluntarily acquire foreign citizenship after the law’s enactment must relinquish their U.S. citizenship.
  • Existing dual citizens would have one year to submit a written renunciation of either their foreign citizenship to the Secretary of State or their U.S. citizenship to the Secretary of Homeland Security.
  • Non-compliance would result in automatic relinquishment of U.S. citizenship under Section 349(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, treating the individual as an alien under immigration laws.
  • The Secretary of State would establish regulations for declarations, verification, and recordkeeping, in coordination with the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security, to update federal systems accordingly.

The bill could affect high-profile figures, including First Lady Melania Trump, who holds both U.S. and Slovenian citizenship. It would also impact millions of naturalized Americans from countries allowing dual nationality, such as Nigeria.

A July report by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed that 38,890 Nigerians were naturalized as U.S. citizens between 2021 and 2023, ranking Nigeria 13th globally and the only African nation in the top 20. Nigerian law permits dual citizenship for those born in the country, allowing retention of Nigerian nationality alongside another without penalty.

Estimates suggest over 40 million Americans, many of them Mexican-Americans, are eligible for dual citizenship, though the U.S. government does not track exact figures.

The proposal comes amid heightened debates on citizenship. Earlier this year, President Donald Trump issued an executive order seeking to deny automatic birthright citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants, invoking interpretations of the 14th Amendment. The order prompted lawsuits from 18 states and rights groups and remains stalled in legal challenges.

Moreno’s bill aligns with conservative pushes for stricter immigration and loyalty standards but faces steep hurdles in a divided Congress. Critics argue it could undermine America’s immigrant heritage and international ties, while supporters view it as a safeguard for national security.

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