Back in the old country: because of the "law of the blood" Italian, the Americans return in the country of their ancestors and claim the citizenship

For all the obvious reasons, people who come to Italy often find that it is difficult to leave. Now, some find that they should not go home – they already have are House.

Sandy and Phil Ferretti, from Long Island to Florida, run the Relais Ortaglia B & B in Tuscany. Phil is the great-grandson of an Italian immigrant. "Who would have thought we would have arrived in Tuscany, but we are here!" Sandra said.

Ferretti discovered a connection with Italy deeper than he thought. he can actually be Italian, because of what is called the law of blood.

Correspondent Mark Phillips asked Phil: "A lot of people love Italy, there are many reasons to do it.All people do not want to become Italian.Why did you decide?

"Life is too short to not become Italian, come on!" Ferretti replied. "I think it was on a t-shirt, everyone comes from somewhere, everyone has roots, I guess I'm coming back."

Maybe it was written on a t-shirt, but more importantly, it is also written in the old Italian laws. Ferretti discovered that in Italy, unlike US citizenship, which is based on your country of birth, it relies on whether or not your parents have Italian blood in their veins – blood that can flow from generation to generation , from Phil's ancestor immigrant to him.

Thus, after years spent in Italy on vacation, Ferrettis sold in America and settled here.

"And we looked at each other every time we had to go home and we thought," Why are we leaving our house? "Said Sandy. "We felt so comfortable here, we love culture, we love food, and we love people."

By settling here, Phil's lawyer, Michele Capecchi, informed him that he was probably the lucky winner of the grand lottery of Italian citizenship.

"The first member of your family born in Italy, when he moved to a foreign country, he continued to pass on Italian citizenship, Italian blood, to children, grandchildren, etc.," said Capecchi.

Phillips asked, "So, are you telling me that, whether they know it or not, there are potentially millions of Americans who, because of the blood flowing in their veins, are still Italians? "

"Yes, what determines the transfer of Italian citizenship is the blood."

More than four million Italians emigrated to the United States between 1880 and 1920. Today, more than 17 million Americans today claim Italian origins. The law of blood means that many of them are still technically Italian.

Capecchi said: "They come to me and say," We feel very connected to this country. We love culture, we love the language, we love it, we love it, we love it. "

"Can you do it yourself, or do you need to hire a lawyer to do it?" Phillips asked.

"You can do it yourself," Capecchi replied.

The grandfather of Marcie Blackstone and Leslie Forness, Felice Oliverio (far right), emigrated to the United States a century ago.

Family photo

That's why Marcie Blackstone and Leslie Forness of Oregon – granddaughters of an Italian immigrant – come to get their family's archives in a small town in southern Italy. Their grandfather, Felice, went to the United States around 1900 to change the surname from Oliverio to Oliver. Massimo, at the archives office, spends a lot of time looking for documents from people who went to America about a century ago.

Leslie said, "When we heard that we could do it, we were excited!"

"Dual citizenship would be a great benefit for us and our children," said Marcie.

Phillips asked, "What is the benefit to you?"

"My advantage is that I have a place to go if I wish," Leslie answered. A safeguard clause!

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There seems to be a rise in demand lately.

Phillips asked, "Are there things happening at home now that make the idea of ​​looking more attractive to you?"

"Yes, sir, there is: our country is divided," said Leslie. "And it's nice to have a place where we could potentially go someday."

Laura Lee Watson, who also regained her citizenship in Italy, now runs a company that guides Italo-Americans on their own heritage footsteps, often meeting distant and lost cousins ​​along the way.

Citizenship does not connect them only to Italy; a passport means that they can live anywhere in Europe.

When asked how big the movement was, Watson said, "I think it's becoming an industry, because if you look at the Italian consulates, if you look at the San Francisco consulate, or in Los Angeles, there is a waiting list of 10 years just to get an appointment to submit your application. "

The wheel of history turns, greased with irony.

"Well, I guess that's the complete turn," said Phil Ferretti. "Your great-great-grandparent, you know, is coming to America for a better life, your great-great-grandchild is coming back to Italy for a better life!"

"Who would have bet on that?" asked Phillips

"Nobody!" Sandra said.

Phil added, "I'll tell you, I do not think I could have written it better."

And it is a story that is still being written.

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Story produced by Mikaela Bufano.