Susan Sarandon, the renowned American actress, has the potential to obtain Italian citizenship by descent iure sanguinis through her maternal lineage. In fact, as the actress states in an interview with Il Fatto, Sarandon’s mother was born in Ragusa, Sicily, before immigrating to the United States. Despite being born in 1946, Sarandon could potentially be eligible for citizenship recognition. Let’s delve into how and why. Italian citizenship iure sanguinis, also known as citizenship by descent, allows individuals to acquire Italian citizenship if they can prove direct ancestry from an Italian citizen. In Sarandon’s case, her maternal connection to Ragusa raises the possibility of qualifying for this form of citizenship. If her mother was an Italian citizen at the time of her birth and met the necessary criteria, Susan Sarandon could indeed be eligible to have her Italian citizenship recognized.
This approach to citizenship recognition has gained momentum recently, as more individuals explore their ancestral ties to Italy. The process involves gathering and presenting essential documents, such as birth certificates and other vital records, to substantiate the claim of Italian descent. Sarandon’s potential path to Italian citizenship highlights the enduring importance of ancestral heritage and the desire of individuals to connect with their roots. It also underscores the significance of understanding and navigating the legal procedures associated with citizenship by descent. As Sarandon’s case exemplifies, the journey to obtaining Italian citizenship through descent can be intricate but rewarding, as it connects individuals to their familial and cultural origins.
The Disparity in Treatment Between Citizenship by Descent Through Father and Through Mother
In reality, concerning citizenship by descent, the Court of Cassation has ruled that due to the disparity in treatment between descent through the father (recognized since the birth of the Italian state in 1861) and descent through the mother (recognized only from 1948), the right should be extended even before that date. Unless a denial judgment had been previously issued by a judge before 1948, a remote possibility in the specific case.
Recognition of Citizenship by Descent (iure sanguinis) Even Before 1948: The Judicial Route
The right to citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis) of Susan Sarandon therefore constitutes a pre-existing status before 1948. Today, the lack of citizenship recognition is an enduring administrative negative effect. As the Consulate is the sole available office for foreigners seeking citizenship recognition and must adhere to regulations, the actress cannot obtain what is rightfully hers through maternal descent via the administrative route. The only path left is to appeal to the Italian court, even from abroad, so that a judge can rectify this injustice and acknowledge her right to become an Italian citizen iure sanguinis. Only the judiciary can remedy a legislative and administrative gap. If Susan Sarandon intends to assert her Italian heritage and obtain citizenship, it is necessary to follow the judicial route to have a right acknowledged that, in fact, has been hers since birth.
Here are the prerequisites for the recognition of citizenship by descent (iure sanguinis)
In order to obtain Italian citizenship by descent through the mother (iure sanguinis), certain fundamental prerequisites must be met:
- Establishing Filial Relationship: There must be clear evidence of the filial relationship between the applicant and the Italian citizen mother. Adequate documentation is required to prove the status of legitimate, legitimated, or natural child.
- Mother’s Italian Citizenship: The mother must have been an Italian citizen at the time of the child’s birth. If the mother acquired Italian citizenship after the child’s birth, she cannot retroactively transmit it.
- Absence of Loss or Renunciation of Italian Citizenship by the Mother: If the mother lost or renounced her Italian citizenship after the child’s birth, she cannot transmit it.
- No Final Rejections of Italian Citizenship before 1948: There should be no court judgments rejecting Italian citizenship that became final before 1948.
By adhering to these prerequisites and following the indicated judicial process, Susan Sarandon has a good chance of having her right to Italian citizenship by descent through her maternal line recognized.
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