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By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
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Republican lawmakers are pushing for restrictions on dual citizenship for members of Congress.
"Dual citizens elected to the United States Congress should renounce citizenship in all other countries," Rep. Thomas Massie said in a statement.
Why It Matters
Republicans are looking to reshape U.S. citizenship laws to align with their agenda, with several lawmakers supporting changes to how dual citizenship is handled in Congress. At the same time, ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants has emerged as a central focus of the administration's hard-line immigration agenda, especially after President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at challenging the long-established legal precedent.
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What To Know
Republican Rep. Thomas Massie said in a statement to Fox News Digital on Monday that he does not believe individuals holding citizenship in foreign countries should serve in the U.S. legislature.
Massie introduced the "Dual Loyalty Disclosure Act," with GOP Representatives Andy Biggs, Marjorie Taylor Greene, and Clay Higgins serving as original cosponsors.
Massie said in a press release that dual citizens elected to serve in Congress should consider renouncing their foreign citizenship.
"At a minimum, they should disclose their citizenship in other countries and abstain from votes specifically benefiting those countries," Massie said.
"If we are going to continue to allow Members of Congress to acquire and retain citizenship in other countries, they should at least be required to disclose to voters all countries of which they consider themselves to be citizens," he added.
Experts told Newsweek that the legislation "erodes" citizenship laws.
It's part of a wider effort by the GOP to roll back citizenship laws for immigrants across the country.
Trump's executive order would revoke citizenship for children born on U.S. soil to undocumented immigrants or individuals with temporary immigration status. The administration argued in court that birthright citizenship creates a significant incentive for illegal immigration.
Trump's administration has requested that the Supreme Court narrow the scope of nationwide injunctions issued by three federal judges that are blocking his executive order redefining birthright citizenship in the U.S.
The emergency applications urge the justices to take a "modest" step in lifting the judges' restrictions on Trump's Day 1 order, allowing federal agencies to proceed with drafting guidance and preparing for implementation, should the president ultimately prevail in the litigation.
What People Are Saying
Amelia Wilson a Law professor at Pace University told Newsweek: The proposed "Dual Loyalty Disclosure Act" represents yet another maneuver to erode our nation's citizenship laws while promoting an ultranationalistic agenda. It suggests, at a minimum, that a duly elected representative, who also happens to hold two passports, is per se incapable of faithfully serving the American people. But on a more insidious level, the proposed legislation acts in concert with other moves by the Trump Administration—such as the attack on birthright citizenship—that advance the narrative that anyone who is not a "pure American" is the enemy.
Thomas Massie told Fox News Digital: "Personally, I don't think dual citizens should serve in Congress, but I ultimately decided to introduce a transparency bill requiring full disclosure of citizenship. Voters can then make the decision."
What Happens Next
It remains to be seen if the bill will progress in the GOP-controlled house with a razor-thin majority.
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