Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has introduced new legislation aimed at reaffirming that U.S. citizenship comes with undivided national loyalty. The bill seeks to codify that citizens of the United States “must have sole and exclusive allegiance to the U.S.”
Moreno’s proposal, titled the “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025,” goes a step further by targeting dual nationality directly. Under the bill, no one would be allowed to remain a U.S. citizen or national while holding citizenship in another country. If it becomes law, any American who voluntarily takes up foreign citizenship would be required to give up their U.S. citizenship from the date the measure takes effect.
People who currently hold dual citizenship would be required to file a written renunciation of their foreign citizenship with the Secretary of State or submit a written renunciation of their U.S. citizenship to the Secretary of Homeland Security within one year of the law taking effect.
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According to the bill, anyone who fails to meet these requirements would be treated as having voluntarily given up their United States citizenship under section 349(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
The bill also directs the Secretary of State to establish regulations and procedures for declaring, verifying and maintaining records of exclusive citizenship. It further requires coordination with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to ensure that anyone determined to have relinquished their citizenship is “appropriately recorded in Federal systems and treated as an alien for purposes of the immigration laws.”
“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,” as per Moreno.
If approved by Congress, the measure would come into force 180 days after it is signed into law.
For decades, the Supreme Court has upheld dual citizenship as a constitutional right. In Talbot v. Jansen (1795), the court said Americans who take up another citizenship do not have to give up their U.S. citizenship. Later, in Afroyim v. Rusk (1967), the court ruled that a U.S. citizen cannot be stripped of their citizenship unless they willingly choose to give it up.
Although the U.S. government does not track how many Americans hold dual citizenship, estimates suggest the number is significant. International Living reports that more than 40 million Americans, including many Mexican Americans, are eligible for dual citizenship.
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May educated individuals hold dual citizenship, if this “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025” comes into place, then America will lose a lot of talent.