A US Senator has launched a invoice that goals to remove the potential of twin citizenship for American residents. If handed the invoice would have an effect on these planning to naturalise in European nations in addition to those that have already got.
American residents dwelling in Europe may see their means to carry a European passport lower off if a brand new invoice have been to be change into regulation within the United States.
Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio launched a invoice to the Senate on Tuesday that may remove the potential 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 keeping with 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 nations like France, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Spain or Sweden from gaining a secondary citizenship.
Also, the proposed regulation would require any Americans who’ve already gained twin citizenship in these nations 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 regulation is evident: “a person might not be a citizen or nationwide of the United States whereas concurrently possessing any international citizenship.”
For Americans dwelling in international nations that permit twin citizenship, which means that they can’t undergo the naturalisation course of within the nation during which they now stay.
The invoice states {that a} US citizen who voluntarily features international citizenship after the regulation 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.
Advertisement
Renouncing American citizenship is a expensive and time-consuming course of.
READ ALSO: Why increasingly Americans in Europe are renouncing their US citizenship
It’s price noting that this might additionally apply to the kids with a US citizen dad or mum who’ve thus far been capable of have a US passport.
As the invoice is written, from the date the invoice turns into regulation, US dual-citizens would have one yr to both submit a written renunciation of their international 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, underneath the management of President Donald Trump, has moved to tighten the nation’s immigration legal guidelines.
READ ALSO: US authorities nearly doubles value 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 after I turned 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 regulation doesn’t require Americans to report the truth that they’ve gained a secondary citizenship, so there isn’t any official depend on what number of Americans could be affected by the proposed regulation.
Expert estimates on the variety of US dual-citizens range extensively – from 500,000 to five.7 million, in keeping with a report by US media outlet Newsweek. A report by International Living means that some 40 million Americans, lots of whom are Mexican-Americans are eligible for dual-citizenship.
Advertisement
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 probably is that this to change into regulation?
It’s not but clear how a lot help 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 must go Congress earlier than arriving on the president’s desk. It would additionally probably 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 court docket had dominated {that a} US citizen can’t lose their citizenship except they willingly give up it.
