(WASHINGTON, D.C.) Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio has introduced the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, a sweeping proposal that would force millions of Americans with dual citizenship to choose a single nationality or lose their status as citizens of the United States 🇺🇸. The bill, filed in the Senate as of December 2025, follows a recent tragedy in Washington, D.C., that has fueled fresh calls for tougher immigration and citizenship rules.
What the bill would require
Under the text described by Moreno’s office, the Exclusive Citizenship Act would:
- Require every American who also holds another country’s passport to pick one citizenship within one year of the law taking effect.
- Automatically revoke U.S. citizenship for anyone who fails to renounce their foreign citizenship by that deadline.
This automatic-loss provision is central to the growing legal and political fight over how far Congress can go in reshaping American nationality law.
How the bill would affect future citizenships
The proposal would also restrict future actions:
- U.S. citizens would be blocked from gaining any new foreign citizenship unless they first renounce their American status.
- Practically, a U.S. citizen could not become the citizen of a spouse’s country or of a long-term country of residence without giving up their American passport first.
Senator Moreno’s personal story and rationale
Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican born in Colombia, has made his own experience part of the bill’s pitch. He renounced his Colombian citizenship when he became a U.S. citizen at age 18, and he now argues everyone should face the same “all‑or‑nothing” choice.
“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,” he said, framing the measure as a test of loyalty amid rising global tension.
Moreno and supporters say dual citizenship creates “conflicts of interest and divided loyalties,” particularly when national security is implicated. They link the proposal to broader Republican efforts to tighten immigration and citizenship rules following the D.C. tragedy.
Enforcement and agency roles
The bill would give major new responsibilities to the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Under the proposal, these agencies would need to:
- Design systems to identify, track, and monitor Americans who also hold another citizenship.
- Check passport records, consular reports, and other data sources to find people affected by the one‑year deadline.
The mechanics of such tracking have not been fully explained, but the enforcement component is central to the bill’s design.
Who would be affected — public figures and everyday Americans
One striking aspect of the Exclusive Citizenship Act is how directly it would touch well‑known public figures. The legislation, as described, would apply even to people at the top of U.S. political life, including First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron, who hold Slovenian citizenship in addition to U.S. citizenship.
Their situation underscores how common dual citizenship has become in modern America — cutting across party lines, income levels, and regions.
Constitutional concerns and legal challenges
Legal scholars and immigrant advocates warn the bill is likely to collide with the Fourteenth Amendment, which protects U.S. citizens from losing their citizenship unless they voluntarily give it up.
- Critics argue that automatically stripping citizenship from people who do not act within a year would amount to a forced change in status, not a voluntary renunciation.
- They say any law that removes citizenship without a clear, voluntary act would face immediate federal court challenges.
Opponents emphasize that citizenship is one of the most protected legal statuses in the United States 🇺🇸. Taking it away alters nearly every part of a person’s life — from the right to vote and hold a U.S. passport to the right to live and work in the country without fear of deportation.
For many Americans who built families, careers, and homes in the U.S., being told to choose between heritage and current home could be deeply painful.
Supporters’ argument
Supporters of Senator Bernie Moreno counter that the current system is too loose. Their key claims:
- People with ties to other countries may face pressure in times of war or political conflict.
- The U.S. should not have to guess where someone’s loyalty lies.
- Forcing a clear choice would send a strong message about what it means to be an American and reinforce a shared national identity.
Current status and oversight
The bill is now under review in the Senate and has triggered sharp debate on Capitol Hill and beyond. Lawmakers, legal experts, and affected families are watching to see whether the measure gains momentum or stalls amid constitutional questions.
- Immigration‑focused outlets, including VisaVerge.com, have begun examining how many communities could be drawn into the dispute and what kinds of court fights might follow if Congress moves ahead.
Unanswered questions and practical concerns
For now, Americans with dual citizenship face many uncertainties:
- The proposal does not specify what would happen to people who lose U.S. citizenship for failing to act within the one‑year window.
- It does not explain how those people could live, work, or visit family in the U.S. afterward.
- It does not clarify how exceptions would be handled — for example, for people who cannot safely contact their other government to renounce that citizenship.
Federal response and existing guidance
The Biden administration has not publicly released a detailed response to the Exclusive Citizenship Act, and the White House has not issued its own draft changes to citizenship rules tied to the D.C. tragedy.
Federal agencies already follow long‑standing guidance on acquiring and retaining U.S. citizenship, including the naturalization rules posted by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on its citizenship information page: https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship.
Any nationwide shift as broad as ending dual citizenship would represent a major break from that existing framework.
Quick summary table
| Topic | What the bill would do |
|---|---|
| Deadline | One year to choose a single citizenship after law takes effect |
| Penalty | Automatic loss of U.S. citizenship for failure to renounce foreign citizenship |
| Future rule | U.S. citizens barred from gaining new foreign citizenship without first renouncing U.S. citizenship |
| Agencies involved | Department of State, DHS (tracking and enforcement) |
| Constitutional issue | Potential conflict with the Fourteenth Amendment (loss must be voluntary) |
Broader implications
As debate over Senator Bernie Moreno’s bill widens, families with members born abroad, Americans married to foreign nationals, and children who grew up with two passports are listening closely.
For them, the debate is not only about law and national security, but also about identity, culture, and belonging. Whether the Exclusive Citizenship Act advances or not, the argument it has sparked over what it means to be “only” American is likely to shape the national conversation on immigration and citizenship for years to come.
Senator Bernie Moreno’s Exclusive Citizenship Act would require Americans with dual citizenship to select one nationality within one year or automatically lose U.S. citizenship. It would prevent U.S. citizens from obtaining new foreign citizenships without first renouncing U.S. nationality. The bill assigns enforcement duties to the State Department and DHS. Supporters cite national security and loyalty; opponents warn of Fourteenth Amendment conflicts, administrative hurdles, and likely court challenges.
