A bill introduced in the United States Senate last Monday (1) proposes to end the possibility of dual citizenship for American citizens. If approved, the text would directly affect Americans living in Europe who wish to maintain or obtain dual citizenship. citizenship of countries like ItalyGermany, France, Spain and Sweden.
O "Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025" It was introduced by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio on December 1st. According to the text, US citizens "They owe exclusive loyalty to the United States" and they will not be able to hold foreign nationality.
The proposal covers both those who already hold dual citizenship and those who intend to become naturalized citizens outside the U.S. If the bill becomes law, any American citizen who acquires a foreign nationality after its enactment will automatically lose their U.S. citizenship.
Mandatory waiver
Those who already hold dual citizenship would have one year to choose between retaining their American or European nationality. The text stipulates that anyone who does not formalize this decision within the deadline will be considered to have voluntarily renounced their United States citizenship.
Renouncing U.S. citizenship involves a costly and bureaucratic process. Currently, there is no requirement to notify the U.S. government about holding a second citizenship, and therefore there is no official number of people affected.
A report by International Living suggests that around 40 million U.S. citizens are eligible for a second nationality, especially those of Mexican descent.
Application and monitoring
The bill calls for the State Department to create a system for registering and monitoring renunciations. Those who cease to be American citizens will be treated as foreigners for immigration purposes.
The rule would also apply to children of American citizens who are currently entitled to a U.S. passport through their parents.
Political context
The proposal comes amid stricter immigration measures under President Donald Trump. Moreno, who took office in 2024 with Trump's support, renounced his Colombian citizenship upon becoming an American citizen.
In a statement, he said: “Being an American citizen is an honor and a privilege, and if you want to be American, it’s all or nothing. It's time to end dual citizenship once and for all.
If approved by the Senate, the bill still needs to pass through the House of Representatives and be signed by the president. The text may also face legal challenges. In previous rulings, the U.S. Supreme Court has already recognized the right to dual citizenship.
If approved, the bill would have a direct impact on public figures such as First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron Trump. who also hold Slovenian citizenship.
See the draft bill here: Exclusive-Citizenship-Act-of-2025.pdf
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