Dual citizenship: in jeopardy again?

Over the past several years here in Germany, many of us watched with a mix of relief and disbelief as the government debated—and ultimately passed in January 2024—a new law formally allowing dual citizenship under certain conditions. Early drafts even included a “well-integrated fast track” route, but those generous provisions were scaled back in committee hearings and legislative redrafts. As news outlets such as The Local reported, the changes and a surge of applications have strained the already slow pace of the Einbürgerungsämter across the country.

Just when dual citizenship in Germany seemed to have reached a stable place, a new development from across the Atlantic caught the attention of Americans living abroad—and not in a reassuring way.

A U.S. Senator Takes Aim at Dual Citizenship

On December 1, 2025, Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio introduced the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 in the U.S. Senate. The bill—officially designated S.3283—would do something unprecedented in modern U.S. law: it proposes to end dual citizenship for Americans by requiring citizens with another nationality to choose either the United States or the foreign country within a defined period.

Specifically, under the proposal:

• Existing dual citizens would have 12 months from when the law takes effect to either:

  • Renounce their foreign citizenship, or

  • Renounce their U.S. citizenship.

• If someone did not act within that year, the bill states they would be treated as having voluntarily relinquished U.S. citizenship under federal law.

• The proposal also includes provisions to establish a national registry of dual citizens and to automatically strip U.S. citizenship from anyone who acquires a second nationality after the law takes effect.

Senator Moreno has publicly framed this as a matter of “sole and exclusive allegiance to the United States” and has argued that dual citizenship can create “conflicts of interest and divided loyalties.”

What It Doesn’t Mean—At Least Not Yet

Here’s the important part: this bill is in the very earliest stage of the legislative process. It has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but there have been no hearings or votes and there’s no indication of bipartisan support.

Under current U.S. law, dual citizenship is permitted and widespread. The U.S. government does not require citizens to choose one nationality over another simply because they hold another passport, and the State Department explicitly recognizes that carrying multiple citizenships is lawful.

Moreover, longstanding U.S. Supreme Court precedent—especially Afroyim v. Rusk and Vance v. Terrazas—holds that citizenship cannot be taken away unless the individual voluntarily and intentionally relinquishes it, something this bill’s mechanisms may conflict with if it ever became law.

Why This Matters to Expats in Germany

For most Americans living in Germany today, the proposed legislation would have no immediate effect—because it’s not law and hasn’t even cleared committee at this stage.

But the conversation is worth noting for a few reasons:

1. It signals that dual citizenship is an active policy debate in the U.S., not just a niche expat issue.

2. If anything like this gained traction, it would touch millions of Americans with ties abroad—whether through work, family, or heritage.

3. Even the threat of major change can influence decisions about naturalization, long-term planning, and where people choose to build their lives.

What Happens Next?

The Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 faces a long—and likely rocky—road ahead. Constitutional scholars and advocacy groups argue it would be vulnerable to legal challenge if it ever reached a vote, given existing constitutional protections for citizenship.

For now, dual citizenship remains fully legal in the United States. If the bill advances or other proposals emerge, we’ll be following developments closely and sharing updates here.