Sen. Bernie Moreno Introduces Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025

Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) has put forth a new proposal called the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025. This legislation aims to end the practice of dual citizenship for U.S. citizens, raising concerns over national loyalty and divided allegiances.

Under this bill, U.S. citizens would not be allowed to hold citizenship in other countries if that status brings obligations to foreign governments. If an individual chooses to acquire foreign citizenship after the law goes into effect, they would be considered to have renounced their U.S. citizenship. Current dual citizens will be given a year to either renounce their foreign citizenship or risk having their American citizenship revoked. If they don’t comply, they’ll be seen as having voluntarily given up their U.S. citizenship according to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

The term “foreign citizenship” refers to any citizenship granted by another government that requires an allegiance. The act mandates the Secretary of State to establish guidelines for this exclusive citizenship process, ensuring proper verification and record-keeping while collaborating with both the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to update federal systems. Additionally, the Secretary of Homeland Security must inform the public about compliance in the Federal Register.

Moreno, who is a naturalized citizen himself, shared his thoughts on the importance of national loyalty. He remarked, “Becoming an American citizen at 18 was one of the greatest honors of my life. It was an honor to take the oath of allegiance—to the United States and no other country. Being an American citizen is a privilege, and if you wish to be one, it’s all or nothing. It’s time we put an end to dual citizenship for good.”

This proposal comes on the heels of other legislative attempts by Moreno, including efforts to limit job outsourcing by Americans and laws targeting the illegal hiring of foreign workers by companies.

Moreno’s initiatives reflect a wider trend among Republicans aiming to tighten the requirements for U.S. citizenship in federal service. For instance, Congressman Randy Fine (R-Fla.) recently introduced the Dual Loyalty Law Disqualification, which would bar individuals with foreign nationality from serving in Congress. Fine believes that elected officials should exhibit unwavering loyalty to the United States, presenting this bill as a response to claims of dual loyalty, particularly against politicians supportive of Israel. This legislation would apply to both new candidates and those already in office seeking re-election.

At a recent event with Breitbart News, Moreno emphasized the need to distinguish between legal citizenship and illegal immigration. He said, “I wasn’t born in this country. I’m Hispanic, but I don’t feel targeted. I became a citizen as soon as I could. This isn’t about being anti-Hispanic; it’s about reinforcing the message that unauthorized entry into this country isn’t acceptable. It’s more about the necessity for individuals who’ve trespassed to leave.”