U.S. Bill Seeks to Eliminate Dual Citizenship, Stirring Concern Among Immigrants

Eliminating dual citizenship

Proposal sparks concern

Millions would be affected

A new bill introduced in the United States Senate has raised alarms among immigrant communities who could be forced to renounce the citizenship of their country of origin.

The initiative, known as the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, proposes that no American be allowed to hold another nationality simultaneously.

According to El Universal, the driving force behind the proposal is Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, who was born in Colombia and became a naturalized US citizen at age 18.

Moreno argues that dual citizenship represents a conflict of interest and that there should be a single allegiance to the United States—an idea central to the US dual citizenship law debate.

Eliminating dual citizenship: A proposal that forces a choice between two countries

US Bill Seeks to Eliminate Dual Citizenship – Photo: Shutterstock

“It’s very, very simple. Either you are a US citizen or you are a citizen of another country,” Moreno said during an interview with Stephen Bannon, former adviser to President Donald Trump.

The senator maintains that “dual loyalties” compromise national identity and raise doubts about the fidelity of those who hold two passports.

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His proposal includes the prohibition of holding US and foreign citizenship simultaneously, applying both to those born in the country and to naturalized citizens.

If approved, any US citizen who acquires another nationality would automatically forfeit their US citizenship, Univisión reported.

A one-year deadline to renounce

The initiative also sets a 12-month deadline for those who already have dual citizenship to send a letter to the State Department renouncing their original nationality.

As an alternative, citizens may submit a document to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to renounce their U.S. citizenship.

If neither action is taken within the established timeframe, the law would assume that the person is automatically renouncing their U.S. citizenship.

Currently, U.S. legislation allows individuals to maintain multiple nationalities without requiring exclusive allegiance to the country.

Senator Bernie Moreno’s personal argument

“When I became a citizen of the United States (…) I swore allegiance to the United States of America and not to the country where I was born,” he said, describing that moment as an honor and a matter of common sense.

Moreno, born in Bogotá in 1967, often highlights that his family emigrated seeking opportunities and that he voluntarily chose to adopt a single national identity.

He has repeatedly expressed support for former President Trump’s immigration agenda, which includes a promise to carry out the largest mass deportation in the nation’s history.

“I was born in Colombia (…) but I made a conscious decision (…) to be a citizen of the United States,” the legislator stated.

Possible impact on millions of naturalized immigrants

The American Immigration Council estimates that more than 23.6 million immigrants have become naturalized U.S. citizens.

Although not all of them hold dual citizenship, the figure helps illustrate the potential reach of a measure like the U.S. dual citizenship law proposal.

Experts warn that the bill’s approval faces uncertainty, as it could face constitutional challenges for affecting acquired rights.

It is also unclear whether the proposal has sufficient support in the Senate to advance in a year marked by political tensions and immigration debates.

An uncertain legislative future

The bill adds to an already restrictive immigration landscape driven by lawmakers aligned with Trump.

Segments of the immigrant community fear the law could move forward and force thousands to make a painful choice between their homeland and the country they now call home.

For now, the discussion continues in the Senate, and questions remain about its legal and political viability.

What is certain is that the proposal has reignited debate over identity, belonging, and the limits of citizenship in the United States, according to Univisión and El Universal.