Reply #20: If your grandparent was an Italian and never became a U.S. citizen

[CTyankee]

you can claim a right to become an Italian citizen under Italian law. This is how I understand it. I am not a lawyer, but I have heard this on many occasions. My understanding is that there are Americans of Sicilian and Italian descent going to Italy and Sicily with documents proving that they can become citizens there (mostly because they want the social benefits that they can't get in the U.S.).

How sad and disgraceful that we can't take care of people in our country sufficiently, so that they have to resort to this loophole to have a decent retirement!