Americans Continue to Explore Exit Options

Americans continue their scramble for second citizenships amid ongoing political turbulence, with interest now appearing to be at an all-time high.

While concerns about the country’s future have been a recurring theme, for the first time, many Americans seem to be increasingly anxious about the possibility of more fundamental shifts that could alter the country’s identity — from a stable democratic market state to one that may not be hospitable to all.

In the face of this existential angst, more are looking for a hedge against more serious political and economic disruption. In this respect US citizens are catching up to their Latin American counterparts, who have long suffered the consequences of societal instability and traditionally recognized the value of having an exit option.

Many Americans already qualify for dual citizenship by birth or descent, while others are hanging on to their homeland citizenship after naturalizing in the USA. For those who aren’t eligible through other avenues such as these, interesting in citizenship by investment has surged. The number of Americans filing investor citizenship applications through residence and citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners jumped by more than 75% in 2025, following an earlier spike of over 400% in 2020 towards the end of the first Trump administration. Until recently, demand among Americans for investor citizenship was minimal. Now they comprise the single largest pool of applicants.

Dual Citizenship Ban? Unlikely

US Senator Bernie Moreno recently introduced legislation that would ban Americans from holding additional citizenships. The Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 would require US citizens to relinquish any additional nationalities within one year of its enactment, with noncompliance resulting in automatic loss of US citizenship. “If you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing”, Moreno asserted in a press release. “It’s time to end dual citizenship for good.”

The proposal appeared to touch a nerve. Democrats Abroad denounced the bill. Dual citizen Americans “do not have ‘divided loyalty’”, the organization asserted. “They have deep global ties that strengthen America’s influence, economy, and security.”

The bill is unlikely to advance. Americans overall are accepting of dual citizenship. A recent YouGov poll, taken in the wake of the Moreno proposal, found that only 21% of Americans think that it is “bad for the U.S. to have some citizens who are also citizens of other countries”, while 26% said Americans should be required to give up their US citizenship if they acquire another nationality. Although Republicans appear more uncomfortable than Democrats with dual citizenship, even within the party there is no majority support for the kind of ban proposed in the Moreno bill, which has not been reported in such major outlets as The New York Times or The Wall Street Journal.

The bill would clearly be politically unpopular, and even if enacted, the courts would almost certainly find the law unconstitutional. In its 1980 decision in Vance v. Terrazas, the US Supreme Court ruled that Americans can be constitutionally deprived of citizenship only for acts undertaken with a “specific intent” to relinquish citizenship. In the wake of Terrazas, US authorities have terminated citizenship only in cases where that intent has been made explicit.

Many Americans Want Dual Citizenship for Themselves — Or Already Have It

A spring 2025 Harris poll showed that almost half of all Americans and fully two-thirds of young Americans (GenZ and Millennials) would like to have dual citizenship. The top-cited motivation was freedom of travel. Of those interested in the status, about a quarter also said they see dual citizenship as promising “greater security and stability”. Healthcare and affordability are other significant factors.

The US, unlike some other states, has no citizenship registry and has made no official effort to track the number of dual citizens. Most naturalization applicants retain their citizenship of origin even as they acquire US citizenship. Other Americans are born with dual nationality through parentage. Many have secured naturalization in other countries through ancestry. In recent years, there has been a marked increase in Greek, Irish, Italian, and Jewish Americans claiming dual citizenship..

Seven percent of respondents in the recent YouGov poll identified themselves as already holding dual citizenship, equating to around 25 million Americans — and almost surely an underestimate. Even on this conservative estimate, dual citizens represent a a significant constituency with a strong interest in defending the status. Any such defense would likely start at the White House itself: both Donald Trump’s spouse and son hold dual citizenship with Slovenia.

From Exit Planning to Exit in Practice

Meanwhile, Americans who can’t get dual citizenship are seeking out residence options in other countries through alternative channels. A recent feature in The New Yorker chronicled booming business for a boutique agency assisting Americans in securing Dutch visas by establishing businesses there — even relatively small ones. These are not Americans who merely thinking about leaving. They are actively leaving.

Even so, dual citizenship remains the preferred option. It provides peace of mind — a genuine Plan B that allows holders to leave if circumstances demand it. In the meantime, one can stay. Visas expire. Dual citizenship is for keeps.