‘We did everything they wanted’: The American families caught in Italy’s citizenship crackdown
We did everything they wanted
American families trapped by Italy’s citizenship policy shift
When the Matwick family arrived in Italy last August, they celebrated their new beginning. Kellen Matwick, whose great-grandparents hailed from central Italy and settled in Pennsylvania, was part of a large community of descendants seeking to reclaim their heritage. However, the Italian government’s March 2025 reform of ancestry-based citizenship upended their plans, with the constitutional court recently signaling it would dismiss initial challenges to the law. The abrupt change left many in limbo, including the Matwicks, who had moved to Italy to finalize their citizenship status—only to face new hurdles before their documents were complete.
The reform, enacted through an emergency decree, aimed to curb the surge in citizens by descent who had never resided in Italy. Yet for Matwick, the policy shift not only delayed his future but also disrupted his daily life. He now struggles to secure employment, travel, or access healthcare while awaiting resolution of his legal status. With no transition period for those already in the process, the Matwicks—alongside thousands like them—find themselves stranded, unable to navigate Italy’s system as they had anticipated.
After weighing their options, the couple chose Italy over Spain, where Matwick could have pursued a digital nomad visa. Though both spoke Spanish fluently, they viewed citizenship as a more stable path. “It didn’t seem like a risk—this process has been around for decades,” Jacqueline Matwick remarked. They relocated from New York City to Arizona, aiming to raise their children in a new environment while pursuing Italian heritage. “We said, ‘Let’s do it the right way,’” Kellen added. “We treated it like an actual move, chose the city we wanted, and did everything they asked for. Now I feel so foolish—because we did it correctly, we got penalized.”
The journey to citizenship involved multiple bureaucratic steps. Upon arrival, families had to secure long-term rentals, register with local authorities, and obtain residency permits—tasks that took at least 45 days. Only then could they submit their paperwork to claim recognition of their heritage-based citizenship, a process once automatic. For the Matwicks, gathering proof of their lineage took two years. By August 2024, they had moved to Turin, contacting city officials the next day to announce their intent. “No one responded in August,” Jacqueline said, noting that businesses often close during the month. A follow-up three weeks later resulted in a request to appear in mid-October.
But just days after their scheduled visit, the government issued a circular on October 3, 2025, rendering thousands of Americans ineligible. The Matwicks, who had invested in their move, now face an uncertain future. Their dream of reconnecting with ancestral roots has turned into a legal dilemma, highlighting the challenges faced by those who once effortlessly claimed Italian heritage. For now, they remain in Italy, suspended between past and present, waiting for clarity on a policy that no longer aligns with their efforts.
