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A legislative project presented in the United States Senate could shake the foundations of the country's nationality system and provoke an unprecedented constitutional debate.
Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican elected from the state of Ohio in 2024 and born in Colombia, has introduced the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025.
The initiative proposes to prohibit dual citizenship, forcing millions of people to choose between being solely U.S. citizens or retaining their foreign nationality at the expense of losing their American one.
"All or nothing": Bernie Moreno's vision
Moreno, whose family emigrated from Colombia when he was a child, believes that U.S. citizenship should be exclusive and not shared. As he explained when announcing his proposal:
"One of the greatest honors of my life was when I became a United States citizen at the age of 18, the first opportunity I had. It was a privilege to take the oath of allegiance to the United States of America and only to the United States of America."
And he concluded with a powerful statement: “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 put an end to dual citizenship once and for all.”
Moreno, who renounced his Colombian citizenship upon naturalizing as an American, wants all citizens to follow his example.
Under their proposal, those who hold another nationality would have one year to decide which one to keep, or it would be assumed that they have renounced their American citizenship.
The text of the law is clear: “A person cannot be a citizen or national of the United States while simultaneously holding any foreign citizenship.”
What does the current law say?
Currently, the United States does allow dual citizenship, and this is reflected by the State Department on its official website:
"U.S. law does not require a U.S. citizen to choose between U.S. citizenship and another foreign nationality (or nationalities). A U.S. citizen can naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to their U.S. citizenship."
This principle has also been affirmed by the Supreme Court, which in the case of Kawakita v. United States (1952) established that "the concept of dual citizenship recognizes that a person can possess and exercise nationality rights in two countries and be subject to the responsibilities of both."
How would the Exclusive Citizenship Law work?
If approved, the law would give 180 days to take effect. Then, each citizen with dual nationality would have one year to formally renounce their other citizenship.
If I didn't do it, it would be interpreted as a voluntary renunciation of U.S. citizenship.
Moreover, any person who acquires another foreign nationality in the future would automatically lose their U.S. citizenship, without the need to submit any explicit renunciation.
The project envisions that the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will establish the mechanisms to declare, verify, and record the so-called "exclusive citizenship."
How many people could it affect?
There are no exact figures, as neither the United States nor many other countries keep detailed records of individuals with dual nationality.
However, estimates such as those cited by Newsweek suggest that the number could range between 500,000 and 5.7 million people.
There are even experts who believe that as many as 40% of Americans could be eligible for a second nationality.
This includes individuals born abroad to American parents, children of immigrants, naturalized citizens who maintain ties to their country of origin, or Americans who have acquired a second nationality through marriage or prolonged residence.
Dual citizenship: Advantages and risks
Proponents of dual citizenship highlight numerous benefits:
Global mobility: unrestricted visa access to work, reside, or study in two countries.
Economic opportunities: the possibility to invest, inherit, or establish businesses in two jurisdictions.
Access to services: education, health, and social benefits as citizens, not as foreigners.
Cultural ties: maintaining the connection with our roots and passing them on to future generations.
Diversification of risks: having an alternative in case of political, social, or economic instability in one of the countries.
Critics, like Moreno, argue the opposite:
Divided loyalties: the risk of prioritizing foreign interests. The case of Elena Branson is cited, a citizen of both the United States and Russia accused of acting as an unregistered agent of the Kremlin.
Security clearances: difficulties in accessing sensitive federal jobs.
Double taxation: U.S. citizens must pay global taxes, even if they live abroad.
Military conflicts: citizenship in countries with mandatory military service can create tensions if there are international conflicts.
Is the proposal viable?
Although the law has caused a significant uproar, its chances of being passed are limited.
In a divided Senate of 53 to 47, and with the need for at least 60 votes to advance, the chances are slim. Furthermore, the initiative would face serious constitutional challenges.
The precedent set by the case Afroyim v. Rusk (1967) made it clear that Congress cannot strip someone of their citizenship without a voluntary renunciation.
Judge Hugo Black was emphatic: “The Government cannot sever its relationship with the people by stripping them of their citizenship.”
How would it affect the Cubans?
The proposal also raises important questions for communities such as the Cuban community in exile.
Cuba does not allow dual citizenship to be effective within its territory.
Last year, a bill was published that allows for the formal renunciation of Cuban citizenship from abroad. The process is complex and bureaucratic, and many Cubans have claimed their right to travel to the island as foreigners for years.
The MININT official, Mario Méndez Mayedo, explained that the resignation request "is only accepted when it is submitted from abroad," and that it involves a "high level of responsibility."
The applicant must submit a sworn statement, criminal certifications, proof of residence, and documents proving that they have no debts with the Cuban government.
In this context, Moreno's project could further complicate the legal and immigration situation of thousands of Cuban Americans, caught between two restrictive legal systems.
Conclusion
Senator Bernie Moreno's proposal raises a crucial question: Can or should the United States demand exclusive loyalty in exchange for citizenship?
According to this logic, nationality cannot be shared, and dual citizenship represents a contradiction with American identity.
However, in a nation built on migration and diversity, this vision faces opposition both legally and culturally.
The debate is open. Is it a defense of patriotism or a threat to plurality?
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