Washington: A legislative proposal introduced in the United States Senate aims to ban dual citizenship, prompting concerns among millions of dual national U.S. citizens, including a significant portion of the Pakistani diaspora. The bill would require individuals holding both U.S. citizenship and another nationality to choose one within a specified timeframe.

According to Free and Fair Election Network, the legislation, titled S. 3283 – the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025, was introduced by Republican Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio. The bill has been referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. If approved by the Senate, it will proceed to the House of Representatives and then to the President for assent.

The proposed law would prohibit dual or multiple citizenship, requiring U.S. citizens with another nationality to renounce either their U.S. or foreign citizenship within a year after the law’s enactment. GovTrack.us, a congressional monitoring platform, estimates the bill has a three percent chance of becoming law.

The Pakistani American community, estimated at 580,000 to 700,000 individuals, could be significantly impacted. Pew Research Center data indicates most Pakistani immigrants have lived in the U.S. for over a decade, and a majority have naturalized, making them eligible for dual citizenship. If enacted, those holding both U.S. and Pakistani citizenship would need to choose between the two.

Pakistani Americans are politically active in Pakistan, participating in voting, fundraising, and advocacy. The enactment of S. 3283 would result in the loss of electoral rights in Pakistan for those renouncing their Pakistani citizenship. Currently, Pakistanis with dual nationality can vote but cannot contest elections, although they can donate to political parties or campaigns.