The Democrats Abroad (DA) Global Veterans and Military Families (VMF) Caucus echoes DA’s statement and expresses its unequivocal opposition to recently-introduced legislation by Senator Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) that would permit the U.S. government to revoke the citizenship of American nationals. This proposal, S.3283, or the so-called “Exclusive Citizenship Act,” stands in direct conflict with the United States Constitution and undermines the very principles that service members and their families have long defended.
The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution affirms that all persons born or naturalized in the United States are citizens. Period. Legal scholars, including the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service within the Library of Congress, widely confirm this. VMF members live, work, and serve abroad. Many of us are dual citizens, yet we remain fiercely patriotic to our homeland. Some dual citizens are expats, some were born abroad, and some are deployed overseas.
In most cases, U.S. citizens abroad jump through hoops to properly file federal tax returns and vote from abroad, overcoming constant challenges, only to be ignored entirely in every U.S. census. Still, dual citizens cherish and believe in America’s ideals despite constant attacks from supporters of right-wing philosophies and the dangerous Project 2025 playbook. Our diverse citizenry, both stateside and abroad, has truly enriched American culture and skill sets.
Furthermore, the Republican wish list of forcing Americans to choose citizenship is yet another way to “siphon off” citizens who oppose the MAGA agenda, and thus just another method of voter suppression.
For the military-connected community, this issue carries significant weight. Countless service members and their families are naturalized citizens and immigrants, and many of them have taken an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” Their commitment reflects the core values of equality, the rule of law, and constitutional fidelity. Any legislative effort to strip citizenship for political purposes is inconsistent with those values and poses a direct threat to civil liberties.
Senator Moreno is not a veteran; he is, literally, a used car salesman. It is painfully clear that he does not understand the negative impact his proposal would have on patriotic Americans, and especially those who serve in uniform. As an organization representing veterans, military personnel and their families, Department of Defense civilians and other U.S. citizens around the world, we reaffirm that citizenship is a constitutional right and are not interested in his “lemon” of a bill. If the senator feels so strongly about amending the United States Constitution, then he should do it via the appropriate legislative path: by introducing legislation that passes by a two-thirds vote of both chambers of Congress, and then letting it be ratified by three-fourths of the states.
VMF calls upon congressional lawmakers to reject this measure in its entirety and urges all Americans—especially those connected to military service—to remain vigilant in defending the constitutional rights and freedoms that unify and define our nation.
U.S. citizens living abroad, both civilian and military, are highly encouraged to check your voter registration status and request your ballot for any upcoming elections in your home voting state that you are eligible to vote in.
The Global VMF Caucus has over 1,400 members in dozens of countries, proudly consisting of veterans, military family members, Department of Defense civilians, national security professionals, and strong allies of veterans and military family causes.
For questions pertaining to this statement, please reach out to
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