US EditionUS families contest Italian law restricting citizenship by descent in highest court
The case could affect descendants of an estimated 14 million Italians who emigrated between 1877 and 1914, lawyers said.
- On Tuesday, two U.S. families and attorney Marco Mellone appeared before Italy's Court of Cassation to challenge a government decree restricting citizenship-by-descent claims to descendants more than two generations removed.
- Italy's far-right government issued a decree in March 2025 ending rules allowing ancestry-based citizenship claims back to 1861; the constitutional court upheld the law last month, though the supreme court may clarify its scope.
- Mellone argued the restriction should apply only to individuals born after the law's enactment, potentially affecting descendants of 14 million Italians who emigrated between 1877 and 1914.
- Outside the courthouse, applicant Alexis Traino stated, "I want to contribute to Italy and be a citizen," while an expanded panel is expected to issue a binding ruling in the coming weeks.
- A dozen other individuals whose citizenship claims were halted by the law attended the hearing in solidarity, underscoring the broader stakes for those seeking recognition of their Italian identity.
26 Articles
26 Articles
The Independent
The Independent (US)Americans challenge Italy’s new law restricting citizenship by descent
One case would clarify the citizenship rights of the descendants of some 14 million Italians
Two American families today came to Italy’s highest court to challenge the scope of a law passed a year ago by the Government of Giorgia Meloni that limits citizenship applications to the descendants of Italians separated for more than two generations. Their lawyer, Marco Mellone, argued before the Court of Cassation that the law should apply only to persons born after it came into force, which would potentially open a way to citizenship for mil…
Santa Maria Times
Independent EspañolROME (AP) — Two American families came to Italy’s highest court on Tuesday to challenge the scope of a law passed a year ago by the government of Giorgia Meloni that limits citizenship applications to descendants...
US Families Challenge Italian Citizenship Law in Supreme Court
US Families Challenge Italian Citizenship Law in Supreme Court Two families from the United States are currently challenging a restrictive citizenship law in Italy's highest court. The statute, which limits citizenship claims to those whose Italian ties extend past two generations, has been in effect for a year.The families' legal counsel, Marco Mellone, presented his case to the Cassation Court, arguing that the law should only affect individua…
U.S. families contest Italian law restricting citizenship by descent in highest court
Two U.S. families went to Italy’s highest court Tuesday to challenge the scope of a year-old law passed by Giorgia Meloni’s government limiting citizenship claims to Italian descendants removed by more than two generations.
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