President Claudia Sheinbaum announced plans to amend the Constitution to prohibit dual nationality for presidents, governors, and other elected officials.
The proposal seeks to tighten eligibility requirements for high-ranking public offices. If passed, candidates would be required to hold only Mexican nationality to serve in these roles.
Sheinbaum said the announcement on Aug. 25 [1] from the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City. The president said the measure is intended to close the door to foreign interference in Mexican politics.
As part of the justification for the reform, Sheinbaum cited the case of former Tamaulipas governor Francisco García Cabeza de Vaca. The former governor claimed U.S. citizenship, which the president said creates a vulnerability to outside influence.
The proposed change would create a legal barrier, or "candados," to ensure that those leading the country and its states maintain exclusive loyalty to Mexico. This constitutional shift would target not only the presidency, but also governorships and other key elected positions.
The move comes as the administration seeks to strengthen national sovereignty. By limiting the nationality of those in power, the government aims to remove potential conflicts of interest that arise when an official holds citizenship in another country.
“The measure is intended to close the door to foreign interference in Mexican politics.”
This proposal represents a shift toward stricter nationalist requirements for political leadership in Mexico. By targeting dual citizenship, the Sheinbaum administration is attempting to formalize a legal standard of undivided loyalty, using the controversy surrounding former Governor García Cabeza de Vaca as a catalyst for broader constitutional change.
