Dual-national American readers throughout Europe say they might quit their US passports to remain European in the event that they have been pressured to, with many citing political disillusionment, fears for security, and the sensation of belonging to their adopted nation.
On December 1st 2025, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio launched the “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025” to the US Senate. The proposed invoice, if it ever turned legislation, would successfully pressure Americans to decide on between their American passport and any overseas citizenship. Understandably it sparked shockwaves amongst US passport holders dwelling in Europe and around the globe.
While many have dismissed the invoice as fanciful, publicity-seeking and in opposition to the structure—declaring it may by no means cross given how many individuals it will influence, together with First Lady Melania Trump who’s a twin Slovenian-American nationwide—it has nonetheless raised massive questions in regards to the worth of an American passport to these dwelling overseas.
To gauge the sentiment amongst our readers, we requested Americans in Europe if they might you quit their US citizenship to remain or turn into European.
Here’s what our readers thought.
Almost half able to relinquish passport
The survey revealed that nearly half of respondents, (72 out of 146), would quit their US citizenship if pressured to decide on. However, most expressed unhappiness on the choice. The causes given ranged from political and social alienation from the US to a choice for European life-style and infrastructure.
Broad political disillusionment with the course of US politics underpinned the reasoning of many respondents. For some, this culminated within the shaking of their American identification.
“I do not wish to stay there once more, the monetary reporting burdens are silly, a German passport is stronger, and I simply do not wish to be ‘American’ anymore,” mentioned Dr. Sara Anthony, 36, from Oregon, who lives in Münster, Germany.
Patrick L., 38, from Wisconsin, dwelling in Berlin, Germany, sympathises. “Although I really feel American in my coronary heart, I do not actually recognise the nation that I grew up in.”
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Many respondents merely mentioned they now felt extra at residence within the international locations they stay in than the US they usually see their future this facet of the Atlantic.
Angela from Michigan mentioned: “It would tear a gap in my coronary heart if I had to decide on, however I’d select French. I’ve already lived longer in Paris than in another place in my lifeI really feel very a lot at residence right here.”
Ryan from California agreed, saying “My life is right here, my spouse is French, my youngster will likely be French once we count on our first. My future is French, not American.”
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Many respondents cited fears for the course the US is heading in, with private security being a typical concern. Orion Diamond, 31, from Arizona, dwelling in Lund, Sweden, informed us that “I really like my nation…, however I really feel increasingly alienated from the US and politically scared. I’m transgender and worry… for my life in at the least half of US states.”
This sentiment was shared by Eden Gallanter, from San Francisco, dwelling in Stockholm, Sweden. He informed The Local that “My spouse, daughter and I fled the US to stay in Sweden and we plan to remain right here as a result of my spouse, a trans immigrant, doesn’t really feel secure within the USA.”
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Both gender identification and minority standing stay a urgent concern for a lot of with roots within the US. An nameless reader dwelling in Germany defined how they really feel as an ethnic minority in America:“[I’m] a part of a minority group that has all the time struggled to really feel like I belong or that America cares about me.” Like many readers who responded alongside these strains, nonetheless, they expressed concern in regards to the surge of proper wing views proper right here on our doorstep. “I’m additionally turning into extra fearful in regards to the course Germany could also be headed.”
Politics apart, fairly a number of argued that they most well-liked the financial and quality-of-life advantages of Europe. While many pointed to the potential monetary problems with revoking their US citizenship, some readers imagine that their working circumstances are much better in Europe.
READ ALSO: How Americans in Europe are struggling to resign their US citizenship
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“Considering I earn more money driving a motorbike for Foodora in Sweden than I did as a Machine Operator in a plastics mould injection manufacturing unit within the US, I’ve no need to return” mentioned Zachery Schaftlein, 31, from Tennessee, who lives and works in Stockholm, Sweden.
Richard DeCarlo, 57, from Buffalo New York, dwelling within the rural south of France, pointed to the grind of American tradition on each folks and the planet. Instead, he would like to stay in “a society that focuses on household, having fun with life and work life steadiness. [One] that embraces… the way forward for clear and renewable vitality, infrastructure and public transportation”.
But one nameless reader dwelling in Sweden succinctly summed up the spectrum of potential causes for revoking American citizenship, ought to the invoice cross. “American faculties are unsafe, the way forward for its social safety packages are unsure, the price of healthcare is impoverishing, the price of housing is excessive. The nation has traded the wellbeing of its future generations to line the pockets of those that are rich”.
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Why the quarter who mentioned ‘no’ are holding on
Around 1 / 4 of respondents, alternatively, reported that they might preserve their US citizenship, if pressured to decide on. Their stance was pushed by a mixture of monetary and emotional elements, in addition to a way of nationwide loyalty.
Some pointed to the excessive monetary and logistical prices of renouncing US citizenship, which may contain complicated US tax legal guidelines and considerations over retirement financial savings.
“The financial prices of renouncing us citizenship is simply too excessive. I’ve retirement financial savings and social safety financial savings that may be in jeopardy” mentioned Ian, 47, dwelling in Stockholm. Charles Vestal, 43, dwelling in Berlin agreed that it will be “prohibitively costly to take action”.
Others cited emotional and identification ties, viewing the act of renouncing as an pointless abandonment. “Your coronary heart might be in two international locations, however to show your again utterly on the US is absurd” mentioned Conner, 36, from California, who lives in Ireland.
Ultimately, many shared the view that, whereas they may not agree with all the pieces that comes out of the US, their citizenship is intently tied to their identification. Kent Ozkum 63 from Washington DC dwelling in Nice informed us that he merely “wouldn’t really feel comfy that I’d ever be thought-about absolutely European”.
The undecided
Given the deeply private and sophisticated nature of the query, it’s unsurprising that such a lot of respondents have been undecided. They struggled with the balancing of household ties and monetary danger in opposition to deep political reservations that the choice would name for.
“It all will depend on whether or not a MAGA-Style mentality continues to drive the Republican Party and [if] it appears to be like just like the Republicans will keep answerable for the federal government..” defined Larry Schulz, 79, from Chicago Area, who’s lived in Munich since 1980.
Bob, 64, from Colorado identified that, for now, the choice isn’t one he must make. “The largest query is “Do I want to take action as we speak, or can I wait?” Right now, I can wait. Tomorrow although…”.
Of course, nobody must be shredding their passport simply but. According to a latest YouGov ballot, solely 31 p.c of Americans say that naturalized residents must be required to surrender citizenship in another nation. Secondly and extra importantly, it’s in opposition to the structure.
“The Fourteenth Amendment ensures that each one individuals born or naturalized within the United States are residents”, and on high of this, the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed that the federal government can’t take away US citizenship as a punishment or coverage change.
Regardless, it has clearly raised massive questions for Americans who’ve established a brand new life overseas. It’s questionable as as to if Moreno predicted the potential backlash of a coverage that may pressure a mirrored image on allegiance given the tumultuous latest political historical past of the US. What’s clear is that for a lot of US residents dwelling in Europe surveyed, the longer term is turning into more and more rooted in Europe.
Thanks to all those that took half on the survey.
