Filipino-Americans can breathe a little easier — for now.
The Philippine Embassy in Washington clarified that the United States has not made any policy changes regarding dual citizenship, despite a proposed Senate bill in the US calling to end it.
In a statement, the embassy stressed that the bill remains just a proposal, not a law.
“It will go through several stages of lengthy deliberation,” the embassy explained, adding that the measure may or may not advance depending on the decisions of the US Congress.
Because of this, officials urged Filipino-Americans to be very cautious about renouncing any citizenship. Renouncing Philippine citizenship, they warned, is irreversible — once done, it cannot be undone.
The embassy also noted that US lawmakers will need to weigh the bill carefully, given its major impact on immigrant communities across the country. All Philippine diplomatic posts in the US are closely monitoring the proposal introduced by Senator Bernie Moreno of Ohio, a Republican.
Moreno’s bill seeks to require Americans to hold only US citizenship, eliminating the possibility of dual nationality.
Currently, American law allows dual citizenship as long as the other country also permits it.
For Filipinos, the Philippine Dual Citizenship Law (Republic Act 9225) allows natural-born Filipinos who were naturalized abroad to reacquire Philippine citizenship once they turn 18 or older.
The embassy reminded the public that challenges to dual citizenship in the US are not new — and none have succeeded.
As far back as 1952, the US Supreme Court recognized dual citizenship as a long-accepted legal status, affirming that a person may hold rights and responsibilities in two countries at the same time.
Claiming one citizenship, the court noted, does not mean renouncing the other.
For concerns or clarifications, the embassy encouraged Filipino-Americans to reach out to the Philippine Embassy in Washington or the nearest Philippine consulate.
