Mexican Americans with dual nationality can vote, live and work in Mexico. But could someone who is both Mexican and American become president of Mexico?
That question is now part of an active constitutional debate.
What the Proposal Would Change
In September 2026, Mexico’s executive branch proposed changes to Articles 82, 116 and 122 of the Constitution covering the Presidency, state governorships and the Head of Government of Mexico City.
The proposal would require a person seeking one of those offices to have only Mexican nationality and, if the person holds another nationality, to renounce it before registering as a candidate. It would also restrict the use of foreign passports or political rights tied to another citizenship while holding the office.
This Is Not a Ban on Dual Citizenship
The proposal is much narrower than that.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has publicly said that Mexicans may hold dual, triple or multiple nationalities. Her argument for the proposed restriction is specific to the people who represent the Mexican state in the country’s highest executive offices.
Critics in Congress have argued that requiring renunciation of another nationality would unnecessarily limit the political rights of dual-national Mexicans, including members of the diaspora.
Where the Proposal Stands
The Chamber of Deputies approved the constitutional reform on September 22, 2026 and sent it to the Senate. The Senate debated the measure on September 29.
Because this is a constitutional amendment, the legislative process extends beyond a single chamber and the text can continue moving before it becomes part of the Constitution. The status should be checked again before publication if the article is not posted immediately.
What It Means for Mexican Americans
For most dual citizens, very little would change. The proposal does not take away Mexican nationality or prohibit ordinary citizens from holding another nationality.
The debate matters because it draws a line between two ideas that are sometimes confused: being a dual Mexican citizen and being eligible for certain executive offices.
That distinction is especially relevant for Mexican Americans who are rediscovering the extent of the rights that come with Mexican nationality.
Citizenship Is Bigger Than One Office
The possibility of becoming president makes an interesting headline. But the larger story is that Mexican nationality gives people born abroad a real legal and civic relationship with Mexico.
That can include voting, living and working in the country, obtaining Mexican documents, building a business, owning property and participating in Mexican life in ways many people never realized were available to them.
The rules for a handful of public offices may be changing. The broader reality of dual citizenship is not.
