For generations, Italian citizenship by descent (“jure sanguinis” or “right of blood”) was widely understood as a birthright, extending across multiple generations of the diaspora and dating back to Italy’s formation in 1861. For millions of Italian Americans, that principle formed the basis of a deeply personal connection to their ancestral homeland.

This article first appeared in the May 2026 edition of La Nostra Voce, ISDA’s monthly newspaper that chronicles Italian and Italian American news, history, culture and recipes. Subscribe today!

However, the overhaul of this longstanding legal principle is the result of a series of developments that have unfolded over the past two years.

In late 2024, Italy’s Ministry of the Interior introduced a controversial administrative interpretation often referred to as the “minor issue.” Under this view, if the parent of an Italian child born abroad naturalized while the child was a minor, with them becoming, for example, U.S. citizens, then that act would sever the line of descent. The sudden implementation of the issue cut off those whose applications for Italian citizenship were already in progress. The court is now weighing the legality of the introduction of the minor issue through a handful of cases, two of which include Italian American families, according to Newsweek.

A second, more sweeping change followed on March 28, 2025, when Italy enacted reforms to citizenship law commonly known as the Tajani Decree, named after Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani. The measure narrowed eligibility by limiting recognition to those with an Italian parent or grandparent, while cutting off many claims through more distant ancestors that had long been accepted.

Taken together, these developments marked a significant departure from a system that had historically treated citizenship as something inherited, rather than constrained by generational limits or shifting legislative policies.

Now, courts are weighing not only whether these new limits are lawful, but whether they can be applied to individuals whose claims were previously considered valid, including citizenship applications that were already in process, according to the Associated Press.

In the coming months, Italy’s highest court for civil matters, the Corte Suprema di Cassazione (Italy’s Supreme Court), will hear challenges over the minor issue. These applicants will argue that citizenship by descent is not something granted upon application, but something possessed at birth and merely recognized through a legal process. From that perspective, they contend, the state cannot strip individuals of a status they previously held, and that those affected should only include people born after the new restrictions took effect last year.

The government, by contrast, maintains that it has the authority to define and limit the recognition of citizenship claims, particularly in response to administrative strain and evolving national priorities.

On June 9, the Italian Constitutional Court is scheduled to hear a significant case addressing the broader validity of the Tajani Decree and its introduction of generational limits on jure sanguinis citizenship.

If the courts determine that the new restrictions cannot be applied retroactively, the decision could preserve eligibility not only for pending applicants, but for hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people across the Italian diaspora who would have qualified under prior interpretations (even if they had not yet begun the citizenship application process).

Conversely, if the court sides with the government’s interpretation, the new limits will likely stand as a firm boundary, closing the door on dual citizenship for many Italian Americans.

More Than a Legal Question

“For Italian Americans, the issue extends beyond legal technicalities. Applicants often spend years assembling documentation, tracing lineage through generations and navigating a complex bureaucratic process. For many, recognition of citizenship represents not only a legal status, but a reaffirmation of identity: a tangible link to family history, culture and tradition,” said ISDA National President Basil M. Russo, who is working with U.S. Congressmen Tom Suozzi (D-NY) and Mike Rulli (R-OH), from the Italian American Congressional Delegation, and meeting with leaders of the Italian government, to petition for a rollback of the restrictions.

Either way, the outcome will carry significant consequences, not only for those currently seeking recognition, but for how Italian citizenship itself is understood in the 21st century.

For the Italian American community, the moment is pivotal.

What has long been viewed as an inheritance, passed from one generation to the next, now stands at the crossroads of law and policy; its future to be decided in the courts over the next several months, or perhaps even sooner.

In 1930, immigrant families banded together to create the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), now one of the most prominent and financially successful Italian American organizations in the nation. In the last decade, we built a 730,000-strong social media community, grew our not-for-profit fraternal association, ISDA Financial Life, to nearly a half billion dollars in member assets, co-founded the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF), and launched the fastest-growing Italian American publication (La Nostra Voce). 

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The 28-year-old man from Paramount, Calif., was charged with grand theft after he gained about $34,000 in fraudulent transactions, the Irvine Police Department said on social media.

Target reported at least 70 thefts across the country that were tied to the scheme, the police said.

While officers made light of the crook’s pasta-and-switch method, calling it a “pasta-tively terrible plan,” his crimes were just the latest in a trend of Lego thefts.

Thieves have targeted Lego products because of their high resale value.

Officials have said that the toys are targeted because the pieces and kits are small, untraceable and in high demand.

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EOIR Director Daren K. Margolin delivered remarks, and Chief Immigration Judge Teresa L. Riley administered the oath during a ceremony held at the Department of Justice’s Great Hall in Washington, D.C. on April 8.

Hurst will begin hearing Cleveland Immigration Court cases this month.

Hurst earned a Bachelor of Arts from Xavier University in 2013 and a Juris Doctor from Cleveland State University College of Law in 2016.

Hurst served with the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court in Cleveland from April 2019 to March 2026, including as a magistrate from May 2021 to March 2026 and as a staff attorney from April 2019 to February 2023. From October 2020 to February 2023, he also served as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Adams County Prosecutor’s Office in West Union, Ohio. He previously worked as an assistant prosecuting attorney with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office from October 2017 to March 2019.

Earlier in his career, Hurst served with the Geauga County Probate and Juvenile Court in Chardon, Ohio, first as a law clerk and later as a staff attorney from May 2014 to October 2017. He is a member of the Ohio State Bar.

Hurst and his wife, Nina, have two sons, and the family belongs to ISDA’s Our Lady of Mount Carmel Lodge, located in Cleveland’s Gordon Square neighborhood.

Maria Hurst, secretary of OLMC Lodge, and Jonathan Barry Hurst, OLMC lodge member and one-time sergeant-at-arms, are the proud parents of Anthony Hurst.

The couple remains active in under-40 Italian American initiatives at both the local and national level, including their support of ISDA’s Inizio Lodge in Cleveland’s Little Italy and their attendance at the fourth annual Italian American Future Leaders (IAFL) Convention this past January in South Florida.

Make a pledge and become a member of Italian Sons and Daughters of America today.

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Related story: Baltimore’s Toppled Columbus Statue Revived on White House Grounds

The 28-page suit was filed by attorney George Bochetto on behalf of several plaintiffs, including the Friends of Christopher Columbus Foundation (FOCCF) — a Columbus, Ohio-based nonprofit — and the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO), a nationwide Italian American advocacy coalition.

The lawsuit argues the statue’s removal was unlawful, discriminatory and in breach of binding agreements — all carried out without proper authority, due process or required historic protections.

“Six years ago, in a rushed and inconsistent response to unrest, city leaders removed the Columbus statue but not the name of the city itself,” said COPOMIAO President Basil Russo, who also leads the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA). “Columbus Day emerged in the aftermath of the 1891 New Orleans lynching, when 11 Italian immigrants were killed by a mob of thousands, an event that prompted a national effort to promote the acceptance of Italian Americans. That legacy continues to shape the meaning and importance of these monuments today.”

Read about the historical origins of Columbus Day here.

Cast by renowned Italian sculptor Edoardo Alfieri in Genoa, Italy, the 20-foot bronze statue was unveiled in 1955 before 100,000 people. Its dedication marked the beginning of a formal sister-city relationship between Genoa and Columbus, Ohio, rooted in cultural and commercial exchange.

COPOMIAO’s Pro-Columbus Legal Momentum

COPOMIAO won back-to-back unanimous rulings in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court, blocking the removal of Pittsburgh’s Columbus statue in 2024 and restoring Columbus Day as a citywide holiday in Philadelphia in 2025.

As part of its ongoing bipartisan advocacy efforts, COPOMIAO worked with the Trump Administration this past March to install Baltimore’s toppled Columbus statue on White House grounds — a collaboration that made international headlines.

“Public monuments cannot be removed at the unilateral discretion of elected officials, without process, authority or regard for binding agreements. Courts exist to check that kind of overreach,” said Bochetto.

ABOUT COPOMIAO

The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO), founded in NYC, is a national coalition of 74 cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups. Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) is a proud member of COPOMIAO.

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Building momentum on the international stage, ISDA President Basil Russo met in February with Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani and Ambassador Marco Peronaci in Washington, D.C., marking new connections between Italian and Italian American leadership.

The meeting served as an initial step toward identifying areas of mutual interest and exploring opportunities for future collaboration centered on shared cultural and community priorities.

Tajani, who has served under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni since 2022, is among Italy’s most influential leaders.

Peronaci recently succeeded Ambassador Mariangela Zappia, who had collaborated with Russo to convene cultural leaders and dignitaries in Washington in late 2021, advancing initiatives that promoted Italian education, language, and traditions.

With planning discussions already underway between Tajani and Russo, further developments are anticipated as the dialogue continues to take shape in the months ahead.

More updates and details to follow.

Make a pledge and become a member of Italian Sons and Daughters of America today.

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Washington, D.C. (March 22, 2026) — Unveiled in 1984 by President Ronald Reagan, destroyed in 2020 during civil unrest and revived by COPOMIAO and President Donald Trump, the Baltimore Columbus statue now stands on the White House grounds in celebration of Italian American history and culture.

The installation, spearheaded by COPOMIAO President Basil M. Russo in coordination with the Italian American Organizations United, which commissioned both the original statue and its replica, was months in the making and part of the White House’s “America250” undertaking.

Read President Trump’s letter to Russo here.

“Columbus statues have long stood as symbols of pride and cultural identity for more than 18 million Americans of Italian descent,” said Russo, who also serves as national president of Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA). “For over a century, Columbus’s legacy helped Italian immigrants navigate prejudice and hardship, serving as a source of unity and belonging as they built new lives in this country. Columbus Day itself emerged in the aftermath of the 1891 New Orleans lynching, when 11 Italian immigrants were killed by a mob of thousands, an event that prompted a national effort to promote the acceptance and assimilation of Italian Americans. This history remains central to why these monuments matter.”

Related story: Italian American Groups File Federal Lawsuit Against Ohio’s Capital, Seeking Reinstallation of Columbus Statue

The 13-foot, one-ton replica was built, in part, with pieces of the shattered statue that were retrieved from Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Baltimore officials refused to install the new statue in public, prompting Russo to initiate correspondence with the Trump Administration.

This historic move by the White House is the latest in a series of advocacy and legal victories for COPOMIAO. Through its National Counsel George Bochetto, the organization secured back-to-back unanimous rulings in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court, blocking the removal of Pittsburgh’s Columbus statue and restoring Columbus Day as a citywide holiday in Philadelphia. Bochetto also prevented the deconstruction of Philadelphia’s nearly 150-year-old Columbus monument.

In the coming days, COPOMIAO will announce its next major pro-Columbus lawsuit, and the organization continues to work on all levels, from grass roots activism to its collaboration with the Italian American Congressional Delegation on Capitol Hill, to advocate for Italian American culture.

The public is invited to share feedback on Columbus monument preservation with the Executive Branch through the Office of Presidential Correspondence.

ABOUT COPOMIAO

The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations (COPOMIAO), founded in NYC, is a national coalition of 74 cultural, educational, fraternal and anti-defamation groups. Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA) is a proud member of COPOMIAO.

Make a pledge and become a member of Italian Sons and Daughters of America today.

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The group was joined by various leaders throughout the day including Basil M. Russo, national president of the ISDA; Sharon Cerrone, vice president of ISDA Financial Life and vice president for ISDA’s Western PA district; Ed Manfredi, ISDA fraternal board member and president of ISDA’s Victory Lodge; Dennis Astorino, CEO & Senior Principal of DLA+ Architecture & Interior Design; and Angela Hertz, Executive Director of La Scuola d’Italia Galileo Galilei.

The itinerary consisted of visits to various Italian organizations. Starting with La Scuola d’Italia Galileo Galilei in Shadyside, the school was founded in 2014 as the first Italian nonprofit 501(c)3 in Pittsburgh endorsed by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The visiting dignitaries were able to see firsthand a school with an approach that mirrors that of an Italian school, thus giving a more immersive experience into Italian culture.

Next, the group visited the Heinz History Center to see the Italian Collection and Archives, founded in 1990, while also meeting with Melissa Marinaro, Director, Italian American Program.

In addition, the group received a wonderful presentation by Sabina Coraluppi and her team from Compunetix Inc., a global company headquartered in Pittsburgh and founded by an Italian immigrant.

Dr. Mancini also invited other organizations and Italian groups to meet with the Consul General throughout the day, including a meeting with the new Mayor of Pittsburgh, Corey O’Connor.

The day culminated with a visit to an event at the University of Pittsburgh for the Nationality Rooms & NRIEP Centennial: Archives & Special Collections Exhibit.

Finally, as the Italian Consul General of Philadelphia explained throughout the day, his diplomatic mission from the Italian government and thus main purpose of this visit and future visits is not only to promote the Italian language and culture, but also to create new opportunities and business collaborations between the US and Italy; thus, individuals from different industries but especially financial, retail/merchandising with import/export capability, and the technology sector (e.g. AI, IT, etc.) are highly encouraged to participate in future events.

The Italian Consul General of Philadelphia expressed his whole-hearted gratitude to everyone who participated in this prolific day, and he looks forward to what the future will bring in completing his mission over the next 4 years.

If you are part of a company or organization that is interested in participating in this type of collaboration and future meetings, please contact Dr. Mancini at Pittsburgh.onorario@esteri.it soon as we intend to begin coordinating industry meetings over the next several months.

Make a Pledge and join Italian Sons and Daughters of America today. 

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On Thursday, the Constitutional Court said it would rule in favor of the government and its controversial 2025 law restricting citizenship for those born abroad.

Under the measure, only the children and grandchildren of Italian citizens are now eligible to apply for dual citizenship. The law had been challenged by four judges, who questioned its constitutionality.

Following the first of four hearings this week, however, a statement issued by the court indicated it would uphold the government’s position.

“The Constitutional Court has declared the questions of constitutional legitimacy raised by the Turin court partially unfounded and partially inadmissible,” the court announced.

A detailed ruling is expected in the coming weeks.

The abrupt shift began on March 28, 2025, when the Italian government issued an emergency decree known as the “Citizenship Package.” Championed by Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, the measure took immediate effect. Last May, the Italian Parliament formally confirmed the law.

The restrictions do not affect those who have already obtained dual citizenship or those who submitted applications on or before the March 27, 2025, cutoff. Still, many applicants who spent years — and often thousands of dollars — gathering, translating and notarizing documents now find themselves at a dead end.

Government officials argue the changes are necessary to restore order to an overwhelmed system, citing concerns about fraud and improperly submitted documentation. Yet many of those problems have been reported in countries such as Argentina and Brazil, not in the United States.

For those now deemed ineligible, the only remaining option is to move to Italy and pursue citizenship through residency — a process that can take years and has become even more difficult under stricter visa requirements for non-European Union citizens.

ISDA President Basil Russo met last month with Tajani and Ambassador Marco Peronaci in Washington, D.C., marking new connections between Italian and Italian American leadership.

The meeting served as an initial step toward identifying areas of mutual interest and exploring opportunities for future collaboration centered on shared cultural and community priorities.

As Italy’s court prepares its final ruling on the law’s constitutionality, ISDA continues to advocate for easing the restrictions and restoring eligibility for Italian Americans.

“For Italian Americans, the path to dual citizenship is an almost sacred journey,” said ISDA National President Basil Russo. “It is a years-long and often costly process that allows families to reconnect with their roots and with the people and places that shaped our culture both in Italy and in America. We hope Italy’s leaders and policymakers will recognize the deep personal and cultural significance of this process for our community, and we will never stop advocating for a far more inclusive solution.”

Make a Pledge and join Italian Sons and Daughters of America today. 

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Following Pope Leo XIV’s approval and blessing of the exposition, St. Francis’ skeleton was exhumed from the simple, bare sarcophagus where it normally rests and placed on a specially prepared table in the crypt of the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi.

His remains will be on display until March 22, when Cardinal Matteo Maria Zuppi, archbishop of Bologna and president of the Italian bishops’ conference, is to preside over a closing celebration.

Since the opening day on Feb. 22, bout 400,000 people had registered to venerate the remains, according to the Franciscan community at the Sacred Convent of Assisi.

The majority have been Italian pilgrims, though the second-highest number of registrations have come from the U.S.

The friars at the Sacred Convent in Assisi described the exposition as “an invitation to rediscover the legacy of Francis, a man whose message of peace and fraternity continues to resonate deeply with humanity.” According to Catholic tradition, the physical remains of a saint are known as first-class relics. They are venerated not as magical objects, but as tangible reminders that holiness touches both body and soul.

Born in Assisi, Italy, around 1181, Francis was the son of a wealthy cloth merchant and enjoyed a carefree, even indulgent youth. After a period of illness and a spiritual awakening, he renounced his family’s wealth and embraced a life of radical poverty, humility, and service to others.

He founded the Franciscan Order, a movement devoted to living the Gospel through simplicity, charity and deep compassion, especially for the poor and marginalized.

Francis is known for his profound love of nature, often described as seeing all creation (animals, the elements, even death) as brothers and sisters in a shared divine harmony.

Among his most impactful contributions is the Canticle of the Sun, one of the earliest works of literature in the Italian language, celebrating God through the beauty of the natural world.

Make a Pledge and join Italian Sons and Daughters of America today. 

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The 4th annual Italian American Future Leaders Convention (IAFL4) drew 350 attendees ages 21–35 to South Florida this past week to examine cultural identity, accelerate leadership development and advance strategies for long-term community impact.

Sponsored in part by the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), the four-day, all-expense-paid convention is a rising national fellowship platform where Italian American professionals, students and advocates connect to address opportunities and obstacles, while amplifying 21st-century approaches and community-building.

“Fellows” (first-time attendees) and “Alumni” (returning participants) engaged in tailored workshops and panels exploring dual citizenship pathways and ancestry insight, nonprofit and association leadership, social media and digital storytelling by “Growing Up Italian,” and the development of independent offshoots designed to celebrate and illuminate culture at the grassroots level.

Beyond formal programming, IAFL4 featured networking opportunities, catered Italian cuisine, VIP amenities, a rooftop welcome reception, a popup bocce tournament, traditional dance and a closing celebration.

ISDA continues to invest in leadership development as a strategic priority for the community’s future.

Through its all-expense-paid model, including hotel accommodations, meals and transportation, IAFL lowers barriers to participation while expanding its national reach.

“As we look ahead to IAFL5, we’re incredibly proud of what has been built over the past four years and excited by what comes next,” said IAFL Executive Director Andrea Mauck. “The next convention will be a milestone moment, celebrating our successes, and continuing to raise the bar as we deepen our commitment to the Italian American community nationwide.”

Click HERE to view viral social media coverage from IAFL4.

IAFL President and co-founder John Viola will tease the planning for year five of the convention, dubbed “ItalAmericon,” in the coming months.

“Being at the IAFL Convention, you could truly feel the love and pride for our Italian heritage and culture in the room,” said ISDA National Co-Vice President Danielle Salasavage. “Seeing so many young adults connecting with one another and sharing the incredible work they’re doing in their communities and organizations made me so proud to be among them. It was inspiring to witness firsthand a generation so passionate about keeping our traditions, values, and culture alive, and I have no doubt they will continue to carry our heritage forward for years to come.”

In 1930, immigrant families banded together to create the Italian Sons and Daughters of America (ISDA), now one of the most prominent and financially successful Italian American organizations in the nation. In the last decade, we built a 730,000-strong social media community, grew our not-for-profit fraternal association, ISDA Financial Life, to nearly a half billion dollars in member assets, co-founded the Russo Brothers Italian American Filmmaker Forum (RBIAFF), and launched the fastest-growing Italian American publication (La Nostra Voce). 

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