Peter Spiro
@peterspiro.bsky.social
Law prof, Temple U. All things citizenship
Almost certainly unconstitutional, at least under existing precedent (SCOTUS decisions in Afroyim and Terrazas). But it’s never going to get that far - too many on both sides of the aisle (start with Melania and Baron, and all those Italian and Irish dual citizens) who would fight to keep it.
This is nuts. Think that is the appropriate legal term for this 'Exclusive Citizenship Act' bill.
Includes a generic clause that 'An individual may not be a citizen or national of the United States while simultaneously possessing any foreign citizenship.' (Sec 4(b))
What does that even mean?
Includes a generic clause that 'An individual may not be a citizen or national of the United States while simultaneously possessing any foreign citizenship.' (Sec 4(b))
What does that even mean?
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, just introduced a bill to ban Americans from holding dual citizenship. The bill says that to “preserve the integrity of national citizenship, allegiance to the United States must be undivided.” It’s called the Exclusive Citizenship Act.
December 2, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Almost certainly unconstitutional, at least under existing precedent (SCOTUS decisions in Afroyim and Terrazas). But it’s never going to get that far - too many on both sides of the aisle (start with Melania and Baron, and all those Italian and Irish dual citizens) who would fight to keep it.
Reposted by Peter Spiro
This is nuts. Think that is the appropriate legal term for this 'Exclusive Citizenship Act' bill.
Includes a generic clause that 'An individual may not be a citizen or national of the United States while simultaneously possessing any foreign citizenship.' (Sec 4(b))
What does that even mean?
Includes a generic clause that 'An individual may not be a citizen or national of the United States while simultaneously possessing any foreign citizenship.' (Sec 4(b))
What does that even mean?
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, just introduced a bill to ban Americans from holding dual citizenship. The bill says that to “preserve the integrity of national citizenship, allegiance to the United States must be undivided.” It’s called the Exclusive Citizenship Act.
December 2, 2025 at 10:13 AM
This is nuts. Think that is the appropriate legal term for this 'Exclusive Citizenship Act' bill.
Includes a generic clause that 'An individual may not be a citizen or national of the United States while simultaneously possessing any foreign citizenship.' (Sec 4(b))
What does that even mean?
Includes a generic clause that 'An individual may not be a citizen or national of the United States while simultaneously possessing any foreign citizenship.' (Sec 4(b))
What does that even mean?
This will go nowhere but still…
Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, just introduced a bill to ban Americans from holding dual citizenship. The bill says that to “preserve the integrity of national citizenship, allegiance to the United States must be undivided.” It’s called the Exclusive Citizenship Act.
December 1, 2025 at 9:57 PM
This will go nowhere but still…
Reposted by Peter Spiro
“Totally absurd but probably will stick” is the motto of the T admin.
It’s just one more grift scheme.
It’s just one more grift scheme.
So they found a legal workaround for the “Gold Card” - anyone who donates a million bucks automatically qualifies as an “alien of extraordinary ability”. Totally absurd but probably will stick. No one will have standing to challenge.
The Gold Card
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
September 23, 2025 at 7:11 PM
“Totally absurd but probably will stick” is the motto of the T admin.
It’s just one more grift scheme.
It’s just one more grift scheme.
Category capped at 40k visas a year. This will probably create backlogs and processing delays for aliens who actually have extraordinary ability
So they found a legal workaround for the “Gold Card” - anyone who donates a million bucks automatically qualifies as an “alien of extraordinary ability”. Totally absurd but probably will stick. No one will have standing to challenge.
The Gold Card
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
September 23, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Category capped at 40k visas a year. This will probably create backlogs and processing delays for aliens who actually have extraordinary ability
Back to this from a couple of weeks ago. Glad to know that Kimmel has a Plan B if he needs it.
"I love Italy. I like the idea of being a citizen there. And mostly what I like to do is bring my passport to parties and show it to people and make them jealous."
Jimmy Kimmel Addresses Rumors He’s Fleeing Trump’s America
MAGA world melted down after Kimmel told Sarah Silverman he had obtained Italian citizenship.
www.thedailybeast.com
September 23, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Back to this from a couple of weeks ago. Glad to know that Kimmel has a Plan B if he needs it.
So they found a legal workaround for the “Gold Card” - anyone who donates a million bucks automatically qualifies as an “alien of extraordinary ability”. Totally absurd but probably will stick. No one will have standing to challenge.
The Gold Card
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
September 23, 2025 at 4:57 PM
So they found a legal workaround for the “Gold Card” - anyone who donates a million bucks automatically qualifies as an “alien of extraordinary ability”. Totally absurd but probably will stick. No one will have standing to challenge.
"I love Italy. I like the idea of being a citizen there. And mostly what I like to do is bring my passport to parties and show it to people and make them jealous."
Jimmy Kimmel Addresses Rumors He’s Fleeing Trump’s America
MAGA world melted down after Kimmel told Sarah Silverman he had obtained Italian citizenship.
www.thedailybeast.com
September 5, 2025 at 8:34 PM
"I love Italy. I like the idea of being a citizen there. And mostly what I like to do is bring my passport to parties and show it to people and make them jealous."
Anyone know if Naomi Osaka actually relinquished her US citizenship? Her name never showed up on the renunciation list and Japan now quietly tolerant of birth dual citizens maintaining the status into adulthood.
Why does Naomi Osaka play for Japan? Explaining tennis star's relinquished USA dual citizenship
The tennis star represents Japan on the national stage.
sports.yahoo.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Anyone know if Naomi Osaka actually relinquished her US citizenship? Her name never showed up on the renunciation list and Japan now quietly tolerant of birth dual citizens maintaining the status into adulthood.
Crazy story at the intersection of 14th amendment and citizenship qualifications for the franchise.
10 Alaskans born in American Samoa plead not guilty in voting case highlighting citizenship issues
Ten Alaska residents pleaded not guilty Thursday to voter misconduct or other charges in cases that have renewed attention on the complex citizenship status of people born in the U.S. territory of Ame...
www.yahoo.com
September 5, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Crazy story at the intersection of 14th amendment and citizenship qualifications for the franchise.
Reposted by Peter Spiro
Well said, @peterspiro.bsky.social in @nytimes.com on Marco Rubio’s 2016 defense of birthright citizenship.
“There’s no reason why the argument he put to work in 2016 couldn’t be put to work today against the Trump executive order,” Professor Spiro wrote.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/u...
“There’s no reason why the argument he put to work in 2016 couldn’t be put to work today against the Trump executive order,” Professor Spiro wrote.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/u...
Marco Rubio Once Filed a Brief Embracing Birthright Citizenship
www.nytimes.com
August 18, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Well said, @peterspiro.bsky.social in @nytimes.com on Marco Rubio’s 2016 defense of birthright citizenship.
“There’s no reason why the argument he put to work in 2016 couldn’t be put to work today against the Trump executive order,” Professor Spiro wrote.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/u...
“There’s no reason why the argument he put to work in 2016 couldn’t be put to work today against the Trump executive order,” Professor Spiro wrote.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/18/u...
Reposted by Peter Spiro
Can Trump revoke citizenship, and how often does it happen worldwide?
> No, and too often.
Informative @washingtonpost.com piece drawing on @globalcit.bsky.social data on the regulation of citizenship revokation around the world.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
> No, and too often.
Informative @washingtonpost.com piece drawing on @globalcit.bsky.social data on the regulation of citizenship revokation around the world.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Can Trump revoke citizenship, and how often does it happen worldwide?
Trump has threatened to strip some Americans’ citizenship, which many countries allow in the name of security but critics say can lead to weaponization.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 16, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Can Trump revoke citizenship, and how often does it happen worldwide?
> No, and too often.
Informative @washingtonpost.com piece drawing on @globalcit.bsky.social data on the regulation of citizenship revokation around the world.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
> No, and too often.
Informative @washingtonpost.com piece drawing on @globalcit.bsky.social data on the regulation of citizenship revokation around the world.
www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...
Reposted by Peter Spiro
🎯spoke to @aljazeera.com on global citizenship apartheid: m.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHS...
Delight to showcase my @mitpress.bsky.social book❗️Brief summary at @icon-s.bsky.social: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
@globalcit.bsky.social @profjacob.bsky.social @weareceu.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
Delight to showcase my @mitpress.bsky.social book❗️Brief summary at @icon-s.bsky.social: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
@globalcit.bsky.social @profjacob.bsky.social @weareceu.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
July 21, 2025 at 9:55 AM
🎯spoke to @aljazeera.com on global citizenship apartheid: m.youtube.com/watch?v=HdHS...
Delight to showcase my @mitpress.bsky.social book❗️Brief summary at @icon-s.bsky.social: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
@globalcit.bsky.social @profjacob.bsky.social @weareceu.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
Delight to showcase my @mitpress.bsky.social book❗️Brief summary at @icon-s.bsky.social: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
@globalcit.bsky.social @profjacob.bsky.social @weareceu.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
Reposted by Peter Spiro
The i UK newspaper asked me what's going on with citizenship policies across European countries. Here's why I think we are at a turning point in Europe when it comes to citizenship through naturalisation. And why that is worrying.
inews.co.uk/news/world/w...
inews.co.uk/news/world/w...
Why it's getting even harder for Brits to become EU citizens
Several countries are looking at increasing residency requirements for citizenship
inews.co.uk
July 11, 2025 at 8:32 AM
The i UK newspaper asked me what's going on with citizenship policies across European countries. Here's why I think we are at a turning point in Europe when it comes to citizenship through naturalisation. And why that is worrying.
inews.co.uk/news/world/w...
inews.co.uk/news/world/w...
Reposted by Peter Spiro
Hanging out in Budapest with a great citizenship crowd ❤️
@jdzankic.bsky.social @bronwenmanby.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
@jdzankic.bsky.social @bronwenmanby.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
July 9, 2025 at 9:50 AM
Hanging out in Budapest with a great citizenship crowd ❤️
@jdzankic.bsky.social @bronwenmanby.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
@jdzankic.bsky.social @bronwenmanby.bsky.social @peterspiro.bsky.social
Why policing dual nationality makes no sense
Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Is Stripped of Dutch Citizenship
www.nytimes.com
July 9, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Why policing dual nationality makes no sense
Delighted to join!
Great to back in Budapest to teach at this year's edition of CEU's summer school on Contestations of Citizenship in Times of Global Democratic Backsliding. Looking forward to exchange insights with participants!
Thanks for the invitation @jdzankic.bsky.social & Szabolcs Pogonyi.
lnkd.in/dqxq-Qn6
Thanks for the invitation @jdzankic.bsky.social & Szabolcs Pogonyi.
lnkd.in/dqxq-Qn6
July 9, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Delighted to join!
Reposted by Peter Spiro
I always found identity/countries of origin in pro tennis to be funny. Like on some level they’re all Floridian once they become pros:
July 4, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I always found identity/countries of origin in pro tennis to be funny. Like on some level they’re all Floridian once they become pros:
Reposted by Peter Spiro
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
July 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
Reposted by Peter Spiro
I still believe that denaturalization cases will be relatively rare and that the average immigrant does not need to worry about this. But we can definitely expect to see an increase in cases from around 100-150 a year to maybe double that?
The White House has ordered the US Dept. of Justice to prioritize denaturalization: voiding the citizenship of US citizens.
Who will it denaturalize? "Any" case that it "determines to be sufficiently important".
Point 10 leaves the criteria opaque and arbitrary.
substack.com/redirect/169...
Who will it denaturalize? "Any" case that it "determines to be sufficiently important".
Point 10 leaves the criteria opaque and arbitrary.
substack.com/redirect/169...
June 30, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I still believe that denaturalization cases will be relatively rare and that the average immigrant does not need to worry about this. But we can definitely expect to see an increase in cases from around 100-150 a year to maybe double that?
“Fraud” can be broadly defined so definitely cause for concern. SCOTUS 2017 decision below unanimously held that misrep must have been “material”. Courts exercise closer scrutiny here than with respect to immigration policies, but there are probably lots of cases in which govt still prevails.
June 30, 2025 at 3:38 PM
“Fraud” can be broadly defined so definitely cause for concern. SCOTUS 2017 decision below unanimously held that misrep must have been “material”. Courts exercise closer scrutiny here than with respect to immigration policies, but there are probably lots of cases in which govt still prevails.
Reposted by Peter Spiro
This is an excellent story, which quotes my @templelaw.bsky.social colleague Laura Bingham. It also provides useful context, showing how the rise of anti-immigrant, technologically powered national security state finds precedents in Obama-era policy. www.npr.org/2025/06/30/n...
DOJ announces plans to prioritize cases to revoke citizenship
Denaturalization is a tactic heavily used during the McCarthy era and one that was expanded during the Obama administration and grew further during President Trump's first term. It's a tool usually us...
www.npr.org
June 30, 2025 at 1:56 PM
This is an excellent story, which quotes my @templelaw.bsky.social colleague Laura Bingham. It also provides useful context, showing how the rise of anti-immigrant, technologically powered national security state finds precedents in Obama-era policy. www.npr.org/2025/06/30/n...
Legit terrifying
June 28, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Legit terrifying
Reposted by Peter Spiro
blog.dividedargument.com/p/initial-th...
from Samuel Bray, an expert on and critic of nationwide injunctions frequently cited in Barrett's opinion:
"I do not expect the President’s executive order on birthright citizenship will ever go into effect."
from Samuel Bray, an expert on and critic of nationwide injunctions frequently cited in Barrett's opinion:
"I do not expect the President’s executive order on birthright citizenship will ever go into effect."
June 28, 2025 at 1:12 PM
blog.dividedargument.com/p/initial-th...
from Samuel Bray, an expert on and critic of nationwide injunctions frequently cited in Barrett's opinion:
"I do not expect the President’s executive order on birthright citizenship will ever go into effect."
from Samuel Bray, an expert on and critic of nationwide injunctions frequently cited in Barrett's opinion:
"I do not expect the President’s executive order on birthright citizenship will ever go into effect."