As a recent article from The Daily Mail reports, an increasing number of Americans are leaving the United States due to political and economic shifts. The report highlights that Europe has already welcomed many Americans, from celebrities to dual citizens, with Italy being the top choice on the list. However, on March 28th, the Italian government introduced new restrictions that make it more difficult to obtain an Italian passport through ancestry, with an upcoming referendum that is still deciding the fate of many looking for a different life in the Bel Paese, in response to the United States policies.

In particular, those most affected by the 2025 changes to the Iure Sanguinis law were Americans, who represented the majority of applicants. Following the ruling, eligibility was revoked for those claiming citizenship through great-grandparents born after 1861, a key date as it marks the foundation of the Kingdom of Italy. By now, residency candidates must have at least one parent or grandparent who was born and raised in Italy.

Surely a reform that sparked criticism everywhere, from Italian inhabitants to American applicants. Jerry Lombardo (a member of the Italian-American community) said that the naturalization process seemed to be an attractive opportunity but left many feeling disconnected from the country they thought they were a part of.

On the other hand, Italian citizens are calling for balance and a prioritization of national interests, arguing that this lenient law was first unfair for actual residents, from adults to children of immigrants, who were born and raised in the country, but still face countless obstacles in getting their double citizenship recognised. Moreover, the main concern is linked to an oversaturation of the place, given that with the old criteria more than 80 million people might have become eligible for Italian citizenship.

The numbers tell the story. In 2024 alone, more than 50,000 people from Latin America claimed Italian citizenship. These developments and high number of requests have led to a legal overhaul from the Italian government, in order to promote fairness, equality, and the recognition of rights that – in contemporary Italy – still lack.