'Totally absurd': Americans in Czechia react to proposed dual citizenship act

A newly introduced bill in the U.S. Senate proposing to eliminate dual citizenship for American citizens has sent ripples through expatriate communities worldwide, including Americans living in Czechia.

Senator Bernie Moreno’s proposed Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 would require current dual citizens to renounce one of their nationalities within a year. Those who acquire a foreign citizenship after the law takes effect would automatically lose their U.S. citizenship.

While the bill has a slim chance of becoming law, its introduction alone has already triggered widespread anxiety, anger, and a sense of political hostility among those it would affect.

If passed, the legislation would force U.S. citizens to hold only one nationality, impacting Americans planning to naturalize in European countries such as Czechia, as well as those who already hold dual citizenship through birth, ancestry, or long-term residence abroad.

To understand the real-world impact of the proposal, Expats.cz spoke with U.S. citizens in Czechia, legislative and legal experts, and conducted a reader survey. The story that emerged was that even though the odds that the bill will pass is small, it has already caused emotional and psychological distress, leaving many Americans in Czechia and their families shaken.

Based on responses from 117 participants, the poll revealed a strong preference for Europe. Nearly half (48.7 percent) of those answering the hypothetical question said they would retain their European citizenship and relinquish their U.S. citizenship, compared with just 10.4 percent who would choose to retain their U.S. passport.

Reactions were intensely emotional, with 31.6 percent of respondents saying the proposal made them feel primarily “Angry.” Notably, 50 respondents identified as current dual citizens, the group most directly affected by the potential forced choice.

For many, the reasoning for giving up citizenship would be pragmatic rather than ideological, driven by frustration with U.S. tax obligations, political disillusionment, and a belief that their lives abroad offer greater stability.

“My home country is heading in the wrong direction,” said Emily, an American living in Czechia. “I love my country despite not living there for almost a decade, but it’s clear it loves me less and less each year.”

If enacted, the law would impose a blanket ban on holding both U.S. and foreign citizenship. It would apply not only to Americans who voluntarily naturalize abroad, but also to those born with another nationality or those who retained a foreign passport after becoming U.S. citizens.

Existing dual citizens would have one year to renounce either their foreign citizenship or their U.S. citizenship formally. Failure to act would result in an automatic loss of U.S. citizenship. Future cases would be even stricter: any U.S. citizen who acquires another nationality after the law’s effective date would automatically forfeit their U.S. status.

The proposed bill would also force U.S. military members, diplomats, and public servants with foreign nationality to choose between their careers and their family ties.

“Being forced to choose is wrong,” said Chris W., a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. “Freedom of movement is a basic human right, and dual citizenship makes me no less a patriotic American.”

Parents expressed particular concern about the impact on children. “My children have held both citizenships since birth,” one respondent said. “I don’t want to make that decision for them. It’s far too early in their lives.”

Immigration lawyer Juan Chaves Pernett described the proposal as an attack on identity. “This challenges someone’s very sense of self,” he said. “Senator Moreno is a naturalized citizen; citizenship isn’t all or nothing. The ability to return to a country that forms part of your identity shouldn’t be taken away so easily. There’s no real national security benefit to curtailing dual citizenship.

Chaves Pernett explained how such legislation could complicate daily life and long-term planning for birthright dual citizens.

“In practice, the proposed legislation would primarily affect European citizens, including dual Czech-American citizens and their families. Many live in Europe and may choose to keep Czech citizenship rather than U.S. citizenship. Renouncing U.S. citizenship would subject them to increased scrutiny when entering the United States on a visa or ESTA, especially frequent or long-term travelers."

He goes on to say that U.S. border officials may view former citizens as potential immigrants, leading to secondary inspections, revoked visas or ESTAs, or denied entry.

According to Chaves, minors would be particularly affected. “Losing U.S. citizenship would also mean losing future access to visa-free study in the United States, making long-term educational planning far more difficult; it’s hard to plan for that kind of future when you’re only ten years old.”

The financial implications are also significant. Being “deemed” to lose U.S. citizenship would trigger standard expatriation rules, including complex tax filings and, in some cases, an exit tax. The current cost to formally renounce U.S. citizenship, nearly USD 2,500, adds another layer of stress not to mention administrative burden.

“Any renunciation would require a formal, affirmative statement sent to the State Department; or to Homeland Security under the proposed legislation. There is a strict procedure that must be followed through the embassy, which generally offers consular appointments twice a week during limited hours, so people would likely need extensions.”

Julia Bryan, Global Chair of Democrats Abroad, told Expats.cz the bill is extremely unlikely to become law. “Thousands of bills are introduced every two years, sometimes as many as 15,000 in a single year, and only about 0.25 percent actually pass,” she said.

Bryan described the proposal as political messaging rather than serious legislation, noting it feeds into longstanding “America First” narratives targeting Americans living abroad. The bill is currently stuck in committee and has no co-sponsors both strong indicators of its limited viability.

But for Americans in Czechia and elsewhere abroad, the message is clear: even if the bill never becomes law, its impact is already being felt, reopening deep questions about belonging, loyalty, and the cost of living a truly global life.

“It’s a mean-spirited bill that doesn’t reflect how families actually live in today’s global world,” Bryan said. “And it’s a distraction. There are far more consequential proposals on the table right now.”

Still, Bryan warned that fear itself can have real consequences and urged Americans abroad not to disengage. “If you’re willing to pick up the phone, make sure you’re also voting. Voting is still working. Tell them you're not going to be scared or dissuaded.”

But for dual citizens whose very identity is wrapped up in being both nationalities, the bill feels less like policy and more like a personal attack. Jan Stransky, who holds both U.S. and Czech citizenship, echoed that sentiment.

“I am a proud American as well as a proud Czech. Both countries are part of my identity and have been for my entire life. The idea that I should have to renounce one to prove loyalty to the other is totally absurd.”