Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 Explained: Will Dual Citizens Lose U.S. Citizenship?
The Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 has entered the national conversation as one of the most sweeping proposals in modern American nationality law. Introduced by Senator Bernie Moreno, the bill seeks to eliminate the recognition of dual citizenship in the United States. Although it is only a proposal at this stage, the text of the bill is extremely clear in its intent and scope. If enacted, it would fundamentally change how the federal government views allegiance, citizenship acquisition, and the rights of millions of Americans who possess or may become eligible for another nationality.
The bill provides that a person may not be a citizen or national of the United States while also possessing any foreign citizenship. This is a complete statutory prohibition on dual nationality. It further states that any U.S. citizen who voluntarily acquires a foreign citizenship after the law’s effective date will be deemed to have relinquished U.S. citizenship. As written, the simple act of naturalizing abroad, even if motivated by family, work, or residency reasons, could result in the automatic loss of American citizenship without regard to whether the individual ever intended to give it up.
The bill addresses existing dual citizens by imposing a one-year choice period. Individuals who already hold both U.S. and foreign citizenship would have twelve months from the date of enactment to either submit proof to the State Department that they have renounced their foreign citizenship or submit a formal renunciation of U.S. citizenship to the Department of Homeland Security. If a person does not act within that one-year period, the government would treat them as having relinquished their U.S. citizenship by operation of law. The practical effect of this requirement is that millions of naturalized citizens, Americans born abroad, and even U.S.-born citizens who acquire a foreign nationality through their parents would be forced to make an irreversible choice that current law does not require.
The timing provisions in the bill are equally significant. The Act would take effect one hundred eighty days after enactment to allow the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security to prepare regulations and administrative systems for implementation. These systems would be responsible for verifying renunciations, coordinating with foreign governments, updating government databases, and identifying individuals who are treated as having lost their U.S. citizenship. Such administrative changes would affect passports, voting rights, federal benefits, re-entry into the United States, and virtually every area of life that depends on citizenship status.
If the bill were to become law, the consequences would be felt by a broad range of individuals. Americans who possess foreign citizenship by birth would be required to renounce their foreign nationality or risk losing their U.S. citizenship. Naturalized citizens who retained the citizenship of their country of origin would face the same obligation. Americans living abroad who obtain a foreign citizenship for reasons of marriage, residence, or descent could lose their U.S. citizenship automatically if the acquisition is considered voluntary after the law becomes effective. Federal agencies would need to coordinate closely to ensure that people deemed to have relinquished citizenship are treated as noncitizens under immigration and nationality law. This could alter their ability to travel, access government services, renew passports, or return to the United States.
Significant legal concerns surround the proposal. Supreme Court precedent has long held that an individual cannot lose U.S. citizenship involuntarily and that the government must establish a clear and voluntary intent to relinquish nationality. Automatic expatriation based solely on holding a foreign citizenship, or on acquiring one for practical reasons unrelated to allegiance, conflicts with decades of constitutional doctrine. Critics argue that the proposal would violate the Citizenship Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment and fundamental due process protections. They also warn that forcing millions of Americans to renounce a foreign nationality presents administrative challenges of extraordinary scale and raises questions about how the United States would verify, track, and enforce these obligations across jurisdictions worldwide.
The practical implications for individuals are immediate and complex. A person who was born with the citizenship of another country would be required to renounce that foreign nationality with the foreign government and provide acceptable proof to the State Department. Someone who naturalizes in another country after the Act takes effect could lose U.S. citizenship automatically, even in the absence of any intent to relinquish it, which is a major departure from current law and a likely source of litigation. Members of the U.S. military or federal agencies who hold or qualify for foreign citizenship could face difficult decisions affecting their careers. Individuals who relinquish citizenship, voluntarily or by operation of law, would still be subject to existing expatriation tax rules, including the possibility of an exit tax. The bill does not change the tax code, but the consequences of losing citizenship can trigger sophisticated tax planning concerns.
The bill does not alter the fact that dual citizenship is fully legal today. It has not passed Congress and has not been signed into law. Until that occurs, no timelines or obligations contained in the proposal have any legal effect. Should the bill advance, it would proceed through committee review, debate, and amendment. Only after enactment would the one hundred eighty day countdown begin, followed by the one-year choice period for existing dual citizens. Because of the bill’s constitutional vulnerabilities, legal observers expect rapid court challenges that could delay or block enforcement.
For individuals who hold dual citizenship or who are considering acquiring a foreign nationality, the appropriate response at this stage is to remain informed and prepared. People should maintain documentation showing how and when they acquired foreign citizenship because those facts may be relevant if the law ever takes effect. Anyone who anticipates naturalizing abroad or who has complex immigration or tax concerns should consult qualified legal and financial professionals. As this proposal continues to develop, staying informed through official congressional resources and reputable legal reporting will be essential.
Although the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 is only a proposal, it represents a dramatic attempt to reshape the legal framework governing American citizenship. It would compel millions of individuals to make life-altering decisions and would challenge long-standing constitutional protections and administrative structures. For now, dual citizenship remains lawful, but the national debate is underway. Individuals with questions or concerns should seek personalized legal advice tailored to their circumstances and monitor the legislative process closely.