by Guisela Chiarella
A proposed reform to Italy’s citizenship law is drawing sharp criticism from regional officials, who warn that it could leave many with deep historical ties to Italy unable to claim their heritage.
“If this law passes unchanged, we risk excluding people who have every right to be considered Italian,” Pierpaolo Roberti, Friuli Venezia Giulia’s Regional Councillor for Immigration, told InTrieste in an interview.
Among those at risk, Roberti said, is an Argentine descendant of an Istrian exile—born in Italy but having lived there for less than two years—or a man whose great-grandfather emigrated from Friuli in the mid-20th century to find work and later contributed to the 1976 earthquake relief efforts.
“These are not abstract cases; they are real people with deep ties to our country,” Roberti said. “Denying them citizenship would be paradoxical and unjust.”
A Shift in Italy’s Approach to Citizenship
The proposed decree, part of broader immigration and citizenship reforms, aims to tighten the requirements for obtaining Italian nationality. Supporters argue it will modernize the system and prevent abuses. But critics fear it could sever Italy’s historical connection to its global diaspora, particularly in Latin America, where millions of Italian descendants have long relied on jus sanguinis—citizenship by descent—to reclaim their Italian roots.
Roberti argues that while reform is necessary, it must be balanced. “We need clearer, more efficient rules, but we cannot erase our history in the process,” he said, calling for amendments to the legislation.
The debate now moves to lawmakers in Rome, who will decide whether to adjust the measure—or risk leaving some would-be Italians without a country to call their own.
