Nigerians at Risk as U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno Proposes Bill to End Dual Citizenship

U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno proposes a bill that could end dual citizenship, raising concerns for thousands of Nigerian-Americans.

A new bill introduced in the United States Senate could soon change the lives of thousands of Nigerians who proudly hold both Nigerian and American citizenship. The legislation, known as the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, was recently proposed by Senator Bernie Moreno, a Republican lawmaker of Colombian descent. The bill seeks to abolish the concept of dual citizenship in the United States, igniting widespread debate across the country and beyond. Currently, U.S. citizens are legally allowed to hold dual or multiple nationalities, provided they do not formally renounce their American citizenship. This long-standing policy has given millions of immigrants and naturalized citizens the flexibility to maintain ties with their country of birth while fully embracing their American identity. However, Senator Moreno believes this flexibility undermines the spirit of exclusive allegiance that American citizenship represents. His bill argues that the current law creates potential “conflicts of interest and divided loyalties,” especially when individuals owe allegiance to two different nations that might have conflicting values or interests.

Speaking passionately about the bill, Senator Moreno recalled his own experience as an immigrant from Colombia who became a U.S. citizen at the age of 18.

“One of the greatest honors of my life was when I became an American citizen at 18, the first opportunity I could do so,” Moreno stated. “It was an honor to pledge an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America—and ONLY to the United States of America. Being an American citizen is an honor and a privilege, and if you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing. It’s time to end dual citizenship for good.”

The senator’s comments reflect a growing sentiment among conservative lawmakers who argue that dual citizenship dilutes national loyalty and makes it harder to enforce laws relating to security and foreign allegiance. If enacted, the Exclusive Citizenship Act would compel all naturalized and existing dual citizens to choose one nationality, either retaining U.S. citizenship exclusively or renouncing it in favor of another nationality.

Impact on Nigerians and Other Immigrant Communities
The proposed law could have serious implications for the Nigerian diaspora community in the United States, many of whom hold dual citizenship in both countries. According to a July 2023 report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), approximately 38,890 Nigerians were naturalized as U.S. citizens between 2021 and 2023. This figure places Nigeria as the 13th highest country of origin for new American citizens during that period and, notably, the only African country among the top 20.
If Moreno’s proposal becomes law, these Nigerian-Americans could be forced to make a painful choice: either retain their American citizenship and give up their Nigerian nationality, or remain Nigerians and forfeit the privileges that come with being U.S. citizens. For many, that choice will not be easy. Nigerian law, under Section 28 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), permits dual citizenship for citizens by birth, allowing Nigerians to acquire another nationality without losing their original citizenship. This provision has made it possible for Nigerians in the diaspora to maintain strong economic and cultural ties with their homeland while pursuing opportunities abroad.

Concerns Among the Nigerian Diaspora
Community leaders and immigration experts have expressed concern over the possible impact of Moreno’s bill on Nigerian professionals, students, and families living in America. Dual citizenship has long been viewed as a bridge between nations, fostering global mobility, investment, and cultural exchange. Nigerians with dual status often contribute significantly to both economies, sending billions of dollars in annual remittances back home while also paying taxes and investing in the U.S. economy.
If forced to renounce one nationality, experts warn, this could lead to reduced remittances, strained family ties, and emotional distress for many families with transnational connections. Moreover, the bill raises legal and logistical challenges, as revoking citizenship rights retroactively could spark constitutional debates and lawsuits similar to those that followed previous attempts to tighten U.S. immigration laws.

Ties to Trump’s Immigration Agenda
The proposal also mirrors a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy under President Donald Trump’s administration. Earlier this year, President Trump issued an executive order seeking to deny automatic citizenship to U.S.-born children of undocumented immigrants, a move that sparked national controversy and multiple lawsuits. Civil rights organizations and 18 states swiftly filed legal challenges, arguing that the order violates the 14th Amendment, which guarantees birthright citizenship to all persons born on U.S. soil. The executive order remains suspended pending judicial review.
Senator Moreno’s bill, while distinct, aligns with the same conservative push for stricter definitions of citizenship and national loyalty. If the Exclusive Citizenship Act gains traction, it could mark one of the most significant overhauls of U.S. citizenship laws in modern history.

Possible Effects Beyond America
The impact of this proposed law would not be limited to Nigerians alone. It could reshape the global relationship the U.S. has with millions of immigrants worldwide who currently enjoy the rights of dual nationality. Countries such as India, Mexico, the Philippines, and Canada, which have large populations of dual U.S. citizens, could also be affected. Experts say that forcing individuals to renounce one nationality may not only create legal complications but also discourage foreign investment, international travel, and diplomatic goodwill. Additionally, implementing such a law would require a complex administrative process involving background checks, renunciation forms, and coordination between multiple governments, a challenge that could take years to fully enforce.

The Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 has only just been introduced in the Senate and is expected to face intense debate in the coming months. Civil rights groups, immigration advocates, and legal scholars are already mobilizing to oppose it, arguing that it infringes upon personal freedoms and contradicts America’s image as a nation built by immigrants.
Whether or not the bill passes, the conversation it has sparked underscores a deeply divided political landscape in the United States over identity, patriotism, and immigration policy.
For Nigerians living in America, the coming months will be crucial. Many are watching closely to see whether Congress will move forward with a law that could force them to make one of the toughest decisions of their lives, choosing between the country that gave them birth and the country that gave them opportunity.
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Senator Bernie Moreno’s Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 has set off a storm of discussion both in Washington and across global immigrant communities. For Nigerians and other African nationals who have embraced life in the United States, the stakes are high. The debate raises a timeless question about belonging and identity: Can one truly love two countries at once? Only time will tell whether the U.S. government decides that citizenship must indeed be “all or nothing.”

By Primelineinfo