Bangladeshi-origin US citizens holding dual nationality are increasingly anxious following the introduction of the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 by US Senator Bernie Moreno, a proposed law that seeks to end dual citizenship in the United States.
The bill would require existing dual citizens to choose between their US and foreign citizenship within one year, failing which they would lose their US nationality. New acquisitions of foreign citizenship would also result in automatic loss of US citizenship.
As a result, Bangladesh missions in the United States are receiving a growing number of emails and phone calls from Bangladeshi-origin Americans seeking guidance on how to renounce their Bangladeshi citizenship, diplomatic sources said.
An official at the Bangladesh Embassy in Washington confirmed the trend. “We are receiving queries regularly. Bangladeshis clearly want to retain US citizenship and are asking about the process of surrendering their Bangladeshi nationality,” the official told TIMES of Bangladesh.
Senator Moreno introduced the Exclusive Citizenship Act in late 2025, citing concerns related to national security and loyalty. The proposal represents a significant departure from long-standing US policy, which generally allows dual citizenship. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on the Judiciary in December 2025 and remains at an early stage, with no vote or final passage as of January 2026.
Under current US law, dual citizenship remains legal. The US Department of State does not require citizens to choose between nationalities, although US citizens must use a US passport when entering or leaving the country.
Welfare claims
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump claimed on Monday via his Truth Social platform that 54 per cent of Bangladeshi immigrants in the United States are beneficiaries of government welfare programmes.
These benefits include medical assistance, food aid, housing subsidies, school-related support, and other social services. The welfare application process is relatively simple and lacks a verification mechanism, requiring applicants only to declare insufficient income without thorough government scrutiny.
A Bangladeshi diplomat stationed in the US, however, urged caution regarding the figures. “It is true that a good number of Bangladeshis receive welfare benefits, but we are not certain that the percentage is as high as 54 per cent. We are currently collecting data,” the diplomat said.
In a related development, the US administration has introduced a $15,000 visa bond requirement for applicants from 13 countries. The policy took effect on January 1 for seven countries, including Bhutan. According to President Trump, 81 per cent of Bhutanese immigrants—the highest among the listed countries—are recipients of US government welfare programmes.
