Mexico is changing the rules over who can hold some of the most powerful political offices in the country.

A constitutional reform backed by President Claudia Sheinbaum would require anyone seeking to become president of Mexico, a state governor or mayor of Mexico City to hold only Mexican nationality.

Anyone with dual citizenship would have to formally renounce their other nationality before registering as a candidate.

And the proposal is now very close to becoming part of Mexico’s Constitution.

The reform has passed both chambers of Congress and received approval from a majority of Mexico’s 32 state legislatures. Lawmakers still need to issue the formal declaration of constitutionality before the amendment is published and takes effect.

“Only One Flag”

Sheinbaum has strongly defended the change.

During her September 30 news conference, she argued that Mexico’s president should have only one national allegiance, saying the country’s presidents can have only “one flag, one homeland, one people to defend.”

Her government says the measure is intended to protect Mexican sovereignty and reduce the potential for foreign influence over the country’s highest political offices.

But the reform has also sparked criticism.

Opponents argue that holding two passports doesn’t make someone less Mexican and that the new rule could unfairly exclude members of Mexico’s enormous diaspora and binational families from pursuing the country’s highest offices.

Some critics have also questioned whether the reform could be aimed at potential political rivals. Mexican billionaire Ricardo Salinas, a vocal critic of the government who has hinted at political ambitions, has accused the administration of trying to prevent a possible run. Salinas has since said he does not hold dual citizenship, and Reuters was unable to independently confirm his citizenship status.

What About Mexicans Living in Canada or the U.S.?

This is the important part.

Mexico is not taking away anyone’s right to hold dual citizenship.

Mexicans can continue to hold Canadian, American or other citizenship alongside their Mexican nationality.

The restriction applies specifically to candidates for president, state governor and head of government of Mexico City. A dual citizen wanting one of those jobs would have to give up the other citizenship first.

The new requirement is scheduled to begin with the 2028 electoral process, meaning it won’t apply to Mexico’s 2027 midterm elections.

For a country with millions of citizens and families living abroad, the debate raises a much bigger question:

Does having two passports mean having two loyalties — or can someone be fully Mexican while also belonging to another country? 🇲🇽