Italian citizenship dreams frozen by sudden 2025 rule change
Liz Fitzgerald, a 53-year-old from near Boston, had nearly secured Italian citizenship through her ancestry. Her great-grandfather, Angelo, left Naples for the US in 1909, but a sudden rule change in March 2025 blocked her application. Now, she and thousands like her await a court decision that could reopen their path to citizenship.
Fitzgerald grew up with Italian traditions, like the Feast of the Seven Fishes every Christmas Eve. Her family kept Italian dishes and cookies alive, though Angelo didn't become a US citizen until 1945—years after Fitzgerald's father was born.
She discovered jus sanguinis (citizenship by descent) and spent months gathering documents. By late March 2025, she was ready to apply. But on March 28, the Tajani Decree took effect, restricting eligibility to those with an Italian-born parent or grandparent. Angelo, her great-grandfather, no longer qualified her.
The decree left many applicants in limbo. A hearing in Italy's Constitutional Court on March 11, 2026, will decide if the law is constitutional. Fitzgerald, who has studied Italian for three years, now waits with others for a ruling that could restore their claims.
The court's decision will determine whether Fitzgerald and others can still claim citizenship. For now, their applications remain frozen, dependent on the outcome of the 2026 hearing. The ruling could either close the door permanently or reopen it for descendants like her.
