Proposed Law Demands All Dual Citizens Choose One Country Within 1 Year, Threatening Loss of U.S. Citizenship

The Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 is straightforward: it aims to end dual citizenship for all U.S. citizens, arguing that national allegiance must be “undivided” (SEC. 2). This isn't just about future immigrants; it targets millions of current U.S. citizens who hold a second passport. If passed, this law would fundamentally change what it means to be an American citizen with ties abroad.

The One-Year Ultimatum for Current Dual Citizens

For anyone who already holds citizenship in the U.S. and another country, this bill sets a hard deadline. They would have exactly one year from the law’s enactment to make a choice: formally renounce their foreign citizenship (via the Secretary of State) or formally renounce their U.S. citizenship (via the Secretary of Homeland Security) (SEC. 4). If a person fails to submit one of these written renunciations by the deadline, the bill explicitly states they will be considered to have voluntarily relinquished their U.S. citizenship (SEC. 4(d)). Think about that: if you’re a U.S. citizen living in Canada, the U.K., or Mexico and you miss this deadline—perhaps because you never heard about it, or because the process of renouncing your foreign citizenship is complex and slow—you could wake up a foreign national in the eyes of the U.S. government.

No More Second Passports, Ever

For everyone else, the rules would change immediately upon the law taking effect. If a U.S. citizen voluntarily acquires citizenship in another country after this law is enacted, they would automatically be considered to have given up their U.S. citizenship (SEC. 4(b)). This impacts anyone who might move abroad for work, marry a foreign national, or simply decide to claim a second nationality later in life. For example, if you’re a software engineer who takes a job in Ireland and decides to apply for Irish citizenship after five years, under this bill, the moment that Irish citizenship is granted, your U.S. passport becomes invalid.

The Administrative Headache and Real-World Fallout

This isn't just a philosophical change; it’s a massive administrative challenge. The bill requires the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to coordinate and create new regulations within 180 days to implement this law (SEC. 5). Their job would be to establish procedures for declaring, verifying, and keeping records of exclusive U.S. citizenship. Crucially, they must ensure that anyone who loses their U.S. citizenship under this act is properly recorded in federal systems and is treated as a foreign national under U.S. immigration laws (SEC. 5(a)). This means the millions of people who could potentially lose their U.S. citizenship would immediately become subject to the rules and restrictions governing foreign visitors and immigrants, including visa requirements and potential deportation.

For the estimated 9 million Americans living abroad, many of whom rely on their dual status for work, healthcare, and property rights in their resident country, this bill presents a difficult, perhaps impossible, choice. Renouncing foreign citizenship can be complicated, expensive, and sometimes requires a formal process that can take years—all while facing a strict one-year clock imposed by the U.S. government. The consequence of not making a choice quickly and correctly is the involuntary loss of their U.S. status, stripping them of fundamental rights and protections.