A US Senator has launched a invoice that goals to eradicate the opportunity of twin citizenship for American residents. If handed the invoice would have an effect on these planning to naturalise in European international locations in addition to those that have already got.
American residents dwelling in Europe might see their skill to carry a European passport minimize off if a brand new invoice have been to be turn into legislation within the United States.
Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio launched a invoice to the Senate on Tuesday that will eradicate the opportunity of having twin citizenship for Americans.
Moreno’s “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025” would set up that US residents “shall owe sole and unique allegiance to the United States,” in response to a textual content of the invoice.
Put merely, the invoice would prohibit twin or a number of citizenship for US residents, whether or not they reside within the US or overseas, together with in Europe.
This would forestall Americans in international locations like France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain or Sweden from gaining a secondary citizenship.
Also, the proposed legislation would require any Americans who’ve already gained twin citizenship in these international locations to resign their second citizenship or else resign their citizenship to the US.
What does this imply for Americans in Europe?
The textual content of the proposed legislation is obvious: “a person is probably not a citizen or nationwide of the United States whereas concurrently possessing any overseas citizenship.”
For Americans dwelling in overseas international locations that permit twin citizenship, which means they can not undergo the naturalisation course of within the nation through which they now dwell.
The invoice states {that a} US citizen who voluntarily positive factors overseas citizenship after the legislation is enacted “shall be deemed to have relinquished United States citizenship.”
As for the Americans in Europe who’re already dual-passport holders, they would want to decide as to whether or not they resign their US citizenship or their European one.
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Renouncing American citizenship is a pricey and time-consuming course of.
READ ALSO: Why an increasing number of Americans in Europe are renouncing their US citizenship
It’s value noting that this may additionally apply to the youngsters with a US citizen mum or dad who’ve to this point been in a position to have a US passport.
As the invoice is written, from the date the invoice turns into legislation, US dual-citizens would have one 12 months to both submit a written renunciation of their overseas citizenship to the US secretary of state, or submit a written renunciation of their US citizenship to the secretary of homeland safety.
Those who fail to take action in time “shall be deemed to have voluntarily relinquished United States citizenship,” the invoice reads.
The invoice additionally would require the secretary of state to create a record-keeping course of and to coordinate enforcement with the secretary of homeland safety. Those who’ve relinquished their US citizenship would then be “handled as an alien for functions of the immigration legal guidelines”.
What’s this all about?
This comes because the US authorities, beneath the management of President Donald Trump, has moved to tighten the nation’s immigration legal guidelines.
READ ALSO: US authorities nearly doubles worth of ESTA visa waiver
Moreno, who gained his Senate seat in 2024 with an endorsement from Trump, was born in Colombia however has renounced his Colombian citizenship.
Moreno mentioned in an announcement reported by US media: “One of the best honours of my life was once I grew to become an American citizen…Being an American citizen is an honour and a privilege—and if you wish to be an American, it’s all or nothing.”
“It’s time to finish twin citizenship for good,” he added.
Current US legislation doesn’t require Americans to report the truth that they’ve gained a secondary citizenship, so there is no such thing as a official depend on what number of Americans can be affected by the proposed legislation.
Expert estimates on the variety of US dual-citizens range broadly – from 500,000 to five.7 million, in response to a report by US media outlet Newsweek. A report by International Living means that some 40 million Americans, a lot of whom are Mexican-Americans are eligible for dual-citizenship.
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Interestingly, if handed Moreno’s invoice would have direct penalties for First Lady Melania Trump and her son Barron Trump – each of whom additionally maintain Slovenian passports.
How doubtless is that this to turn into legislation?
It’s not but clear how a lot assist there may be for Moreno’s invoice.
If the invoice have been to go ahead and be handed by the US Senate, it could additionally have to cross Congress earlier than arriving on the president’s desk. It would additionally doubtless face authorized challenges.
The proper to twin citizenship for American nationals has beforehand been affirmed by the US Supreme Court. In the case Kawakita vs. United States, the courtroom had dominated {that a} US citizen can not lose their citizenship until they willingly give up it.
