America's Dual Citizenship Dilemma: Choose One or Lose Both

31% of Americans support forcing naturalized citizens to choose just one passport. But what happens when the other 69% discover they might lose theirs too?

Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno's Exclusive Citizenship Act has landed like a diplomatic bombshell in Washington, proposing something unprecedented: forcing anyone with dual citizenship to pick a side within 12 months or automatically forfeit their American passport. The bill arrives as Donald Trump's second administration doubles down on immigration enforcement, but this time, it's not just targeting new arrivals—it's putting millions of existing Americans in an impossible position.

The Stakes: More Than Just Paperwork

The numbers tell a complex story. While the U.S. doesn't officially track dual citizens, Henley & Partners reported a 183% surge in Americans seeking second citizenship options in early 2025 compared to 2024. The timing isn't coincidental—it reflects growing anxiety about America's political trajectory and global standing.

Under current law, renouncing U.S. citizenship requires extensive documentation, multiple interviews, and a hefty $2,350 fee. But Moreno's proposal would flip this process entirely: stay silent for a year, and your American passport vanishes automatically. No appeals, no second chances.

The senator, who immigrated from Colombia as a child and voluntarily renounced his Colombian citizenship at 18, argues this "all or nothing" approach reflects true American commitment. Yet his personal story highlights the bill's fundamental contradiction—he had the luxury of choice that his legislation would eliminate for others.

The Global Citizenship Gold Rush

Miami immigration attorney Michelle Abeckjerr sees the urgency firsthand. "Everyone applying for U.S. citizenship already has at least one other nationality," she explains. "The main idea is to have choices—economically, politically, if you don't align with the United States, you have the option to move somewhere else."

This desire for optionality has created a modern gold rush for second passports. Countries like Ireland, Portugal, and Italy have seen unprecedented demand for citizenship-by-ancestry programs. Ireland maintains relatively stable requirements for those with Irish-born grandparents, while Italy recently tightened rules after being overwhelmed by applications, now limiting claims to those with Italian parents or grandparents.

For the wealthy, "golden visa" programs offer faster tracks to citizenship through investment. But as Jen Barnett from Expatsi notes, "Applying for dual citizenship is rare for Americans outside of citizenship by ancestry." Most Americans pursuing second passports aren't fleeing—they're hedging.

The Tax Trap Nobody Talks About

Here's where Moreno's bill reveals an unintended consequence that could backfire spectacularly. The U.S. is one of only two countries worldwide (alongside Eritrea) that taxes citizens regardless of where they live. American dual citizens abroad often maintain their U.S. passports specifically because renouncing them doesn't eliminate existing tax obligations and creates complex compliance issues.

Force them to choose, and many might simply renounce American citizenship entirely. "If Americans aren't allowed to have dual citizenship, many will renounce, and the U.S. will lose that tax income," Barnett predicts. The Treasury Department hasn't publicly estimated this potential revenue loss, but with millions of Americans living abroad, it could be substantial.

Constitutional Collision Course

Legal experts see a Supreme Court showdown brewing. The 1967 Afroyim v. Rusk decision established that Americans cannot lose citizenship unless they voluntarily surrender it under the 14th Amendment's Citizenship Clause. Moreno's automatic forfeiture provision appears to directly contradict this precedent.

The bill also raises questions about equal protection. Why should naturalized citizens face different rules than those born on American soil? Many dual citizens inherited their second nationality through birth or ancestry—circumstances beyond their control.

The Closing Window

As the political debate intensifies, practical options are narrowing. Italy's new restrictions signal a broader trend of countries limiting popular ancestry-based citizenship programs. Spain and Portugal have similarly tightened requirements after processing unprecedented application volumes.

Abeckjerr advises clients considering second passports to act quickly: "The moment is now." But this urgency itself reveals the bill's deeper flaw—it's pushing Americans toward the very behavior it claims to discourage.