A controversy broke out online after American author Matt Forney suggested that the United States should abolish dual citizenship, prompting a sharp response from Indian-American commentator Sidharth.
In a post on X, Forney argued that naturalized US citizens should be required to renounce any other citizenship within a year or face automatic denaturalization. He further proposed that individuals born with dual nationality should give up their second citizenship between the ages of 18 and 21 or risk losing their American citizenship.
“There are too many countries—India and China being the biggest offenders—trying to use dual citizens to infiltrate and undermine America. Time for them to go,” Forney wrote.
His remarks followed a report citing concerns raised by Senators Tom Cotton and Rick Scott over alleged misuse of US birthright citizenship laws. According to the report, 107 Chinese-owned surrogacy agencies operating in Southern California were charging over $50,000 per birth to facilitate US citizenship for children. In one case, authorities reportedly seized 26 children linked to a single couple’s alleged scheme. Cotton and Scott also sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi expressing concerns about what they described as the exploitation of surrogacy and birthright citizenship by foreign nationals.
Cotton later posted on X, stating, “Communist Chinese nationals shouldn’t be taking advantage of our surrogacy and birthright citizenship laws to access US passports.”
Responding to Forney’s reference to India, Sidharth pushed back, pointing out that India does not permit dual citizenship. “India does not offer dual citizenship. You are so obsessed with India that you keep pushing lies like this,” he wrote.
In fact, neither India nor China formally allow dual citizenship under their current laws.
The broader debate over dual nationality in the US remains contentious. Critics, including many progressive and Democratic voices, argue that banning dual citizenship could raise constitutional concerns, unfairly penalise law-abiding immigrants, and impact millions who hold dual nationality without any conflict of allegiance. On the other hand, some conservative and MAGA-aligned supporters contend that dual citizenship poses potential national security risks and should be restricted.
