As political and social uncertainty rises in the United States, more Americans are pursuing citizenship by descent through parents or grandparents. Applicants cite concerns such as rising antisemitism, immigration enforcement, cuts to social programs and threats to civil rights as drivers. Legal advisers report a dramatic surge in demand, and experts say a second passport now functions as an "insurance" policy and a meaningful way to reconnect with family history.
‘I Want That Escape Route’: Why More Americans Are Claiming Dual Citizenship
Hollis Rutledge after obtaining his Mexican passport in front of the Mexican Consulate in San Antonio; Rose Freymuth Frazier receiving German citizenship with David Gill, the German consul general, in New York City.Composite: Courtesy Hollis Rutledge; Courtesy Rose Freymuth Frazier
As political and social uncertainty grows in the United States, an increasing number of Americans are reclaiming citizenship through parents or grandparents — not only as a practical convenience but as a form of insurance against an unpredictable future.
Background
For many applicants, the impulse to seek a second passport is personal and urgent. Daniel Kamalić, a 48-year-old tenor who grew up in New York, never imagined living anywhere but the U.S. His father, Ivan, fled communist Yugoslavia in the 1960s; decades later, with a second Trump administration looming, Daniel began preparing documents to claim Croatian citizenship by descent. “I want to get my Croatian citizenship so I can travel and work in Europe without restrictions. And if worst comes to worst, I want that escape route,” he says.
Why Now?
Applicants point to a string of developments that have crystallized their concerns: rising antisemitism after 7 October 2023, large-scale immigration raids and high-profile ICE detentions, cuts to social programs and arts funding, and broader political volatility. For some, worries are also deeply personal — threats to reproductive rights, rollback of LGBTQ+ protections, or anxiety about their children’s future.
Personal Stories
Stories in this wave of applicants cross generations and geographies. Hollis Rutledge, 48, reclaimed Mexican citizenship through his mother’s family both for economic reasons and as a political hedge. After his grandfather renounced Mexican nationality to naturalize in the U.S., Rutledge’s recent application has become a way to protect his trans child and preserve options for his family.
Sixteen-year-old Kyla Shannon of Oregon obtained a German passport through a great-grandmother who fled Nazi Germany, viewing the passport as a practical path to study and live in Europe. Mariam Diop, 24, who was born in the Washington, D.C. area, is pursuing Senegalese citizenship through her mother as she considers contributing to West Africa’s future.
For Rose Freymuth-Frazier, reclaiming German citizenship under Article 116 — which restores nationality to descendants of people stripped of citizenship by the Nazi regime — is a complicated return: an emotional reconnection to a grandmother who was deprived of her nationality, mixed with ambivalence about adding a new national identity.
Trends And Data
Although the United States does not maintain a central register of dual citizens, firms that help people claim citizenship by descent report a sharp rise in demand. Data gathered by Al Jazeera from legal outfits suggests applications from U.S. citizens for citizenship by descent may have grown by as much as 500% since 2023. In May, the U.K. recorded its highest number of Americans applying for British citizenship in 21 years, mostly via family links. Polling also reflects growing interest: a Harris Poll found 66% of U.S. Gen Z and millennials would like a second passport, and Gallup reports the desire to emigrate among younger Americans has risen substantially in the past decade.
Experts’ Perspective
“It has really highlighted the insurance value of a second citizenship,” says Peter Spiro, a law professor at Temple University and author on citizenship. “That’s new for Americans — this idea of having a plan B.”
Legal eligibility varies by country. Many nations recognize jus sanguinis (the right of blood) and allow citizenship to pass through a parent or, in some cases, a grandparent. Compared with immigration routes that require visas, long waiting periods, or investment, citizenship by descent is often more straightforward for those who qualify — though it usually involves document fees, translations, notarizations and patience with bureaucracy. Language skills and historical records can speed the process.
Emotional And Ethical Complexities
Pursuing a second nationality can trigger mixed emotions: it prompts people to reassess patriotism, belonging and family history. Some applicants find joy in reconnecting with ancestral cultures; others wrestle with the irony of pledging allegiance to a country that once persecuted an ancestor. For many it is both practical planning and an intimate reckoning with identity.
What To Know If You’re Considering Dual Citizenship
- Check eligibility rules for the country in question — requirements vary by generation and line of descent.
- Collect vital records (birth, marriage, naturalization certificates) and prepare for translations and notarizations.
- Consult reputable legal or consular services to avoid scams and to clarify obligations, such as taxes or military service in some countries.
- Consider long-term implications: travel freedom, work rights, social benefits, and potential obligations in both countries.
Conclusion
For a growing number of Americans, a second passport is more than a travel perk: it is a pragmatic safeguard and a pathway to reconnect with family history. Whether it becomes a safety net, a career advantage, or a new home, the second-citizenship trend reflects deeper anxieties and aspirations in a changing political moment.
