In early December 2025, Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno introduced a proposed bill called the “Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025” sparking international headlines and understandable questions from dual citizens. Senator Moreno’s bill proposes eliminating dual citizenship in the United States, requiring current dual citizens to choose one nationality within a one-year period. It is an attention-grabbing proposal from a freshman senator that contradicts over 50 years of settled constitutional law, faces impossible logistical challenges, and will not become reality.

While headlines about US dual citizenship may cause concern, the reality is reassuring: constitutional protections for dual citizenship remain rock-solid. At Schlun & Elseven, our citizenship lawyers help Americans in Germany see past the political noise and focus on real opportunities. Germany’s 2024 dual citizenship reforms have opened the door for thousands of Americans to secure EU citizenship rights without risking their US passport. Our citizenship law team specializes in guiding US citizens through the process of German naturalization, citizenship by descent, and all aspects of maintaining dual citizenship.

Why the Bill Will Not Pass

This proposal faces insurmountable barriers at every level – political, constitutional, and practical.

The Political Reality: Zero Support in Congress

The most telling fact about Senator Moreno’s bill is that it has zero co-sponsors. Not a single other senator – Republican or Democrat – has signed on to support it. For this bill to pass, it would need to navigate through the Senate Judiciary Committee, then secure 60 votes in the full Senate to overcome a filibuster. There is no indication of bipartisan support.

The Constitutional Barrier

Even in the extraordinarily unlikely event that the bill somehow passed Congress, it directly contradicts Supreme Court precedent established over nearly 60 years:

  • Kawakita v. United States (1952): Dual citizenship is a recognized legal status,
  • Afroyim v. Rusk (1967): Congress cannot strip citizenship without voluntary, intentional relinquishment,
  • Vance v. Terrazas (1980): Loss of citizenship requires proof of specific intent – it cannot be presumed from inaction.

The Logistical Impossibility

Even setting aside the constitutional and political barriers, implementing this law would be practically impossible since the US does not track dual citizens. Official estimates of Americans with dual citizenship range widely, from 500,000 to 5.7 million people, and some experts suggest that over 40 million Americans are eligible for dual citizenship. The government simply does not know who holds multiple passports. Additionally, no enforcement mechanism exists: The bill would require the State Department and Department of Homeland Security to create entirely new systems to identify, track, and process millions of dual citizens. This administrative undertaking alone would take years and billions of dollars.

Dual Citizenship: The German-American Reality

For German-American dual citizens specifically, this proposal is particularly impractical:

  • Germany only recently expanded dual citizenship rights (2024), recognizing that modern life often involves connections to multiple countries.
  • Tens of thousands of Americans have obtained German citizenship since Germany’s law change, often specifically because dual citizenship became possible.
  • Approximately 120,000 US citizens live in Germany (Federal Statistical Office, December 2024), many of whom hold or are pursuing German citizenship
  • Business, family, and cultural ties between Germany and the US are stronger than ever.
  • Both governments recognize and accommodate dual citizenship in immigration, tax, and consular matters.

The US State Department explicitly states: “Dual nationality is a natural consequence of the interaction of the laws of different countries.” This is not changing.

US Dual Citizenship: The Bigger Picture

Dual citizenship has been legally recognized and functionally supported in the United States for over half a century. The interconnected nature of modern life – particularly between close allies like Germany and the US – makes dual citizenship not just practical, but beneficial for both countries.

For German-Americans, dual citizenship enables:

  • Seamless work and residence rights in both countries and throughout the EU
  • Family connections across the Atlantic without visa complications
  • Business opportunities in both markets and across Europe
  • Cultural and linguistic advantages in an increasingly connected world
  • Freedom of movement that reflects the reality of 21st-century international life

Expert Assessment: Your Dual Citizenship Rights Are Secure

At Schlun & Elseven, we work daily with German-American dual citizens navigating both legal systems. We have helped thousands of Americans obtain German citizenship, particularly since Germany’s 2024 law change made dual citizenship more accessible. The legal foundation supporting dual citizenship is rock-solid on both sides of the Atlantic, and no single senator’s bill changes that reality.

The bottom line: Dual citizenship between Germany and the United States remains stable, legally protected, and practically valuable. You do not need to renounce either citizenship or delay your plans for acquiring dual citizenship based on this proposal. The timing, in fact, could not be better for Americans considering German citizenship: Germany has opened its doors wider, the benefits of EU citizenship are more valuable than ever, and the legal protections for dual citizenship in the US have never been stronger. If you have specific questions about your dual citizenship status or German citizenship applications, our team is here to guide you through the process.