Republicans Have Found a New Kind of U.S. Citizen They Can't Accept

"I was born and raised in the U.S. I'm a U.S. citizen, but I'm also a Spanish citizen through my parents, who were both Spanish citizens when I was born. I never really thought much about my Spanish citizenship. More than anything, I'm American. I grew up watching The Wonder Years, building model planes with my dad, and playing basketball. Plus, my English is a lot stronger than my Spanish."

"This isn't the first time this year that Republicans have reminded me of my family's second-tier citizenship. Though foiled by the courts so far, this administration has made a concerted effort to end birthright citizenship-the way I became a U.S. citizen-an effort that has made its way back to the Supreme Court. The administration's plan for birthright citizenship wouldn't affect me directly, as it wouldn't be-at least in its current version-retroactive."

"This month, Bernie Moreno, a Senate Republican from Ohio, introduced the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, legislation that would compel any U.S. citizen with a second citizenship to choose between the two. Though Moreno's bill is likely to face heavy resistance due to 14 th Amendment protections, it's a reminder for people like my family and me: Not all U.S. citizenships are created equal."

Republican proposals and executive actions increasingly challenge the status of dual nationals and the value of birthright citizenship. Legislation like the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 would force U.S. citizens with a second nationality to choose one. Legal obstacles such as the 14th Amendment could block such measures, but the political movement questions how citizenship was acquired and assigns hierarchies to citizens. Personal experience of holding U.S. and Spanish citizenship underscores the cultural and emotional stakes, including pride in American identity alongside heritage. Attempts to curtail birthright citizenship and stigmatize dual nationality intensify pressure on families with multiple citizenships.

Read at Slate Magazine