Returning to the old country, for good

Americans whose Italian ancestors emigrated to the New World, have themselves emigrated back to the Old World. And thanks to Italian citizenship laws, the blood that has flowed in their family's veins through generations has opened up doors to their claiming Italian citizenship. Mark Phillips reports. (Originally broadcast May 19, 2019.)
Subscribe to the "CBS Sunday Morning" Channel HERE: bit.ly/20gXwJT
Get more of "CBS Sunday Morning" HERE: cbsn.ws/1PlMmAz
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Instagram HERE: bit.ly/23XunIh
Like "CBS Sunday Morning" on Facebook HERE: on. 1UUe0pY
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Twitter HERE: bit.ly/1RquoQb
Follow "CBS Sunday Morning" on Google+ HERE: bit.ly/1O3jk4x
Get the latest news and best in original reporting from CBS News delivered to your inbox. Subscribe to newsletters HERE: cbsn.ws/1RqHw7T
Get your news on the go! Download CBS News mobile apps HERE: cbsn.ws/1Xb1WC8
Get new episodes of shows you love across devices the next day, stream local news live, and watch full seasons of CBS fan favorites anytime, anywhere with CBS All Access. Try it free! bit.ly/1OQA29B
---
"CBS Sunday Morning" features stories on the arts, music, nature, entertainment, sports, history, science, Americana and highlights unique human accomplishments and achievements. Check local listings for CBS Sunday Morning broadcast times.

[@ciaojeffitalia]

Retired in Italy 3 years ago. Sometimes I can't believe how happy I am to be here. The cost-of-living is so much lower and the quality of life is so much better. Make your money in the U.S.A. but relax in Italy.

[@drinkingpoolwater]

is it that hard to make money in italy?

[@DAVIDEPWDD]

the key bring money from America because trying to make a living there is a joke....

[@teleopinions1367]

Yes. Italy has the oldest population of all of Europe, I believe. Young couples are not having children and young people are fleeing the country bc there are no good-paying jobs. But they have rich art and cultural history, and the countryside is pretty. That is a problem because they are not contributing to the State's coffers to pay for their health care system and other social programs.

[@melodymarks4927]

what a great plan

[@DAVIDEPWDD]

@@teleopinions1367 yes very well said...... country is broke. They are jumping on the tax thing property etc but will hurt those that have lived their for generations

[@HoustonKeith72]

Italian Americans are very very lucky to have this option. I wish I could do the same with my ancestral countries.

[@MustacheCashStash125]

Where art thau you from?

[@muurisoras5878]

Great I love Italians most of them are warm people. My Godmother was Italian & I loved her dearly. RIP Selena.

[@dhurley8522]

My parents immigrated from Italy in 1956, shortly after they were married. My father was a Carabinieri in his early 20’s. Here in the US he was a carpenter. My mother raised 6 kids, as my Dad literally broke his back to provide for us... God bless, Angelo and Giuseppina...❤️🇮🇹

[@luccamagic]

I tried to get citizenship through my grandfather, who immigrated to the Bronx. My father was first generation American. Unfortunately, my grandfather became an American citizen one month before my father was born and so, I lost the opportunity. I came anyway and worked here as an English teacher and earned the right to stay for life by establishing my residency here. I am so grateful for that.

[@Tamar-sz8ox]

I was fortunate enough to visit Florence 🇮🇹 . The beauty of Italy is unbelievable ❤️ the land, the food the people & of course their language !

[@geoben1810]

I wish Greece had a system like that. I would live out my days on the Mediterranean coast. But Mexico is fine too. 🇲🇽 😊 🇬🇷✌🇺🇸

[@amapparatistkwabena]

Beautiful story! Good luck to this family!❤️

[@deutschegirl67]

My father is from Berlin. My sister and I have talked several times about moving back to Germany someday.

[@dadduorp]

Must be nice. As a Native American, I wish this land was returned to my ancestors and I could go “back home.”

[@Enr227]

This is the best idea ever. I can’t think of anything more brilliant for everyone involved. Yes.

[@soniaibarra1926]

Wow what a beautiful video!!🙂🙂

[@d.virgallito3490]

50% here, and too old now to go, sigh. Messina, left after earthquake, moved to Palarmo, then USA, Brooklyn, NY. Father married a German/French Canadian girl off the farm of Michigan. What my parents had income genetically, Norman ancestors.

[@jessicavernon8332]

We just found out my grandfather was Italian by ancestry dna. Pinpointed to Abruzzo. I’m astatic about this!!!

[@Dangic23]

Life is way better in Europe than in the USA. Slower pace, better food, better civil society. I lived in Germany for 4 years, next year will move from the USA to Spain.

[@gennaterra]

@Ale Jr. KEEP YOUR INSULTS IN YOUR TRAILER PARK....GRAZIE.

[@cynthiacopland8634]

Much more kind to working families bc of pd maternal & paternal leave.

[@joermnyc]

All but one of my great grandparents came from Italy… this sounds like an amazing law to help people learn their family history and culture.

[@1313coffeeguy]

It's nice to have an option like the sisters. Safe.

[@lpc61]

i wonder what other euro countries are open to this. Scotland? France? etc? As direct decendent from pre US revolution on one side...hmmm. I'm in for options!

[@Eyeluvlola]

@@lpc61 Ireland

[@letslearn4039]

Beautiful place😍.

[@roniquebreauxjordan1302]

Amazingly warm country!!

[@rmescola]

What they don't tell you is that it is very expensive to live here and that we are taxed at the 22% level. These people had money and time to purchase land and start a B&B.

[@FluxyMiniscus]

Ricci yes it’s really expensive to live- and wages aren’t great- I think that if we had the means living in Florence could be great- but it’s definitely a different story for the average person. That’s one reason why many Italians live with family much longer than say Americans - because the lower wages and high (always going higher) rent and cost of living makes it difficult. It’s another reason why we left( apart from the traffic and air pollution)- even with a “good position” at the university and my gig jobs we couldn’t make ends meet... Even though we were living in his family’s apartment. A classic case of Brain Drain - the University in the US made an offer..we couldn’t refuse

[@stenbak88]

22% that’s it

[@msr1116]

@@stenbak88 ....,No, that's just one of several taxes. There is a minimum income tax. VAT and gasoline taxes are intentionally high to control consumption and generate revenue. This, in a country with lower wages than say, Germany or Nordic countries.

[@melodramatic7904]

I don't know. This is my 7th year in Italy. My husband has a nice job with an average salary (compared to salaries in America) and I work part time. We have 2 kids and a mortgage and we are still doing well. We save every month and can afford to send both children to a private daycare/kindergarten. I plan on switching to public school once they go to elementary. We can pay all of our bills and still have money to travel every year. In fact, I had a salary similar to my husband's when I lived in the states and I could barely afford myself and I definitely couldn't save. I find it much easier to live in Italy.

[@NoObligationToday]

The health care is so much cheaper and better in Italy. Taxes pay for the system and the cost is really low per year for the small premium you pay. No one goes bankrupt for an illness and ends in the street.

[@deborahhattel172]

This Rebollini love this🇮🇹❤️

[@iammontecristo]

Lived in Italy for awhile and looked at the dual thing, decided it was not for me. The taxes are high. Not many opportunities for young people. The economy is not that hot.

[@FluxyMiniscus]

iammontecristo yeah, it’s tough for anyone who hasn’t been raised there to enter the job market. The people who do best are usually self employed or don’t mind working odd jobs /low wages - with the EU laws working under the table (not taxed) is highly fined, therefore those once plentiful “gig economy” jobs are now really tough to find. I lasted four years- (even though I have a place to live virtually rent free thanks to family) I am self employed as a jeweler and I’m quite skilled- having trained with Florentine Masters- however, NOBODY is interested in buying handcrafted jewelry from an American in Florence! Lol I suppose I could pretend, and put on an accent...but I’m way too honest for that (plus, who wants a dishonest jeweler? Not me!) in the end, it was better for myFlorentine husband to workin the US (as a scientist) until retirement, Then we will probably move back to Italia to really enjoy la Bella vita...but not in the city.

[@pattyschuster4264]

Maureen BZap o

[@romanobenini3331]

iammontecristo che lagna !! Che luoghi comuni ., che idiozie , che palle . Se sei un fallito in Italia potresti anche esserlo altrove , sappilo .

[@loubock3238]

Why wouldn't you want to live in ITALY!!! It's a gorgeous country with deep proud history, the food, the landscape, the art, the music, they architecture, the fashion ETC....If I could afford it, I'd be gone for sure!!! BRAVO to all that are proud of there heritage, culture and customs of being Italian!!

[@lindacassell5915]

I am Italian.. And I live in America born and raised here but my heart is in Italy

[@FluxyMiniscus]

believe it or not -as wonderful a place to visit, it can be pretty terrible to live in Florence ... the pollution, tourist crowding and traffic can be horrible- days of not being able to breathe due to traffic fumes in the center. My husband was raised in Florence and we lived there shortly after we were married- and I spent the first year between language class and climbing on a scaffolding , worked on restoring his family’s crumbling apartment to a beautiful finish. I lasted four years. We return often to visit family ( in the center of Florence). It has changed tremendously over the past 15 years- much more tourist oriented and far fewer working class neighborhoods. There are fewer artisan workshops too, which is what I miss the most. We talk about retiring in Italy and I think We both are ready to leave the city and establish ourselves outside the tourist track in Maremma or Umbria.

[@stonew1927]

Oh dear, life must be so tough for you traveling back and forth between the States and Italy and having to put up with the traffic and tourists. And you have the luxury to consider a home in Maremma or Umbria. Man, I feel really sorry for you!

[@FluxyMiniscus]

Just saying it’s a great place to visit but really tough to live there. I know it’s first world problems- totally get that it sounds like it’s the life of luxury but it sure isn’t. Perhaps if it was, living in the city would be much better- but for semi- broke artist as myself it can be really tough. Ps Not anyone’s grandma, (yet) the hair is mint green and the kid is in High School

[@NoObligationToday]

@@stonew1927 Don’t you know the homes in Italy can be bought for a song in the areas she is talking about. Try doing that in the United States, you can if you want live in bum f#@k fly over state. Go for it Moseley! I am going through the process of finding a rental somewhere in North Italy in the next year.

[@susiecosner8384]

We live part-time in the country outside Palermo with zero tourist and pollution.. just get out of the city, that’s where the true beauty lies!

[@MarcusLeepapi]

Very very nice.....

[@dariogster66]

That’s all good. Unfortunately hundreds of thousands of people without Italian “blood” but living in Italy since early childhood or even birth still find it exceedingly difficult to become full citizens of the only country they know. They have to wait till they are 18 and go through an arduous process of application that has a short window of months for its initiation. It’s a disgrace and effectively a situation informed by racist policies dating back a century. Germany changed its citizenship law in 2000. Many Italians are still waiting for things to change.

[@louis-vd3ur]

I think the problem isn't in racism but a country's unwillingness to go global especially if that can mean natives becoming minorities on a different level than they are now. Italy just isn't ready for that and maybe never will be.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Very nice.

[@masterimbecile]

Mark Phillips speaks Italian?! Even cooler!

[@thisismeannoying1366]

How nice

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

Pretty awesome idea! Always thought it would be cool to visit Italy. Unfortunately I can’t claim any Italian blood. Unless I’m eating pizza. What an experience it would be. Would love to see the coastal regions. Amalfi Coast, Tuscany, Italian Riviera. Dream on!

[@tonypapa7620]

What is the lawyers name and what’s his contact info?

[@mahirop5743]

This was my mother's plan. To return home to Africa and live amongst the bussling Khartoum metropolitan area in Sudan. Sadly but also happily she now rests in peace over looking the Snohomish river and the Cascadia range in Washington State

[@classicwhitebread]

The Art capital of the world.

[@claudiatapia8310]

Yes, it is

[@karimaogden3875]

I once read that the whole of Italy is an open-air living museum.

[@claudiatapia8310]

@@karimaogden3875 My sister has been there a few times and said that would like to live there and just walk for two years seeing all the beauty ..

[@longbeach7623]

It’s interesting how the WASP host seemed threatened by the idea that Americans can be proud, attached, and aligned with their European immigrant ancestry.

[@NoObligationToday]

I tried to get Italian citizenship but my mother who was born in Italy became a US citizen before I was born. So no can do. I will do an Elective Residency in 2022 an go through the process. It is daunting but well worth it.

[@writereducator]

This Irish boy has always wished he were Italian.

[@j.corona8118]

Great point, are things that’s happening at home that lead you to Italy? Italy is a human country. Good people.

[@dxmxo9427]

I wanna live in Italia it's beautiful

[@malenaboy]

I wish it were possible with Spanish/Portuguese/German/Irish blood.

[@w6wdh]

It is possible with Irish blood. If your grandparent(s) or parent(s) was born in Ireland, you can apply for Irish citizenship. You need to find their birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates (whichever apply).

[@robsledgegroupie]

I'm one generation too far removed from Quebec to get Canadian citizenship. If only mom had sought out that passport...

[@richq1318]

Would love to move to Italy but I have 0 Italian blood. By to the drawing board lol.

[@shellybelly9205]

Reverse migration.

[@martindavis9930]

Are they gettin any in the old country ?

[@teleopinions1367]

How do they deal with the corruption and bureaucracy in Italy?

[@CeeGeeZ]

You mean .... as in 🇺🇸❓😳

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

By doing nothing about it.

[@lpc61]

i want to escape to keywest! and just stay here.😁

[@mitchellpolstein3043]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to move to New Jersey ?

[@jarrodbarkley9061]

😂😂😂

[@gio7799]

Does New Jersey has free health system?

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

New Jersey is a civilized country!?

[@donnawoodford6641]

Even if one isn't of Italian blood, residency can be established, albeit it may take a little longer for citizenship, am I right???

[@heidijenkins2439]

Donna Woodford we retired here three years ago, but we choose to eventually become permanent residents and not seek citizenship. There really isn’t any benefit to it. We are part of the Italian health care system; we just have to pay an average of $350/year for both of us to join and we have been happy with the care we have received. We live in the Abruzzo region which is much more authentic (and cheaper) than Tuscany. We have no italian blood connection.

[@heatherziegenbein9866]

@@heidijenkins2439 Would you ever so graciously, if you should have time, please send me an email. I am extremely interested in the steps you took. This is my dream for 30 years. My name is Heather. Email [e-mail]. Thank you!

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

@@heidijenkins2439 Being an Italian citizen you are given free medical care, and you can travel to most countries in Europe with only your ID card.

[@TheECSH]

Actually, Italy is not doing so well. Its economy is second to last among the G7 (only larger than Canada, but Italy has a much larger population). The country is even more divided.

[@msr1116]

Ethnic Italians have too low a birth rate to sustain all the eventual retirees plus the migrants, who have too many children for current tax revenues to support. Italy will be among several EU countries to find themselves outnumbered by people who have no interest in assimilating or paying exorbitant tax rates.

[@MalteseKat]

Sometimes it's not about the economy. Sometimes it's about people.

[@MalteseKat]

@@msr1116 sounds like the US.

[@msr1116]

@@MalteseKat ....Continue taking in those migrants and it will be ALL about people, because there won't be an economy left to focus on, or an Italian culture and life as it is enjoyed now. Birth rates in much of western and southern Europe are nowhere near replacement levels. Presuming that millions of foreigners are willing to relinquish their religious-based cultures in favor of yours is just plain foolish. It's naive. There is tremendous strength in numbers and youth demographics drive every nation in many important areas of endeavor. They will be happily repopulating Europe, but native ethnic groups on the continent will not be happy with the cultural shift as it plays out.

[@lornelz]

@@MalteseKat Nah, US is doing much better, don't believe the hype

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

As some comments below show, American chauvinism is alive and well, and so is the claptrap that America is the greatest country that has ever existed in the history of the planet ( even if there are weekly mass shootings , when in 10 years there was one mass shooting in Italy ). I left the empire 40 years ago. I have no regrets.

[@peni1641]

People retiring Italy is probably what caused the high number of deaths from c19

[@reaux3921]

No they already had a really old aging population - Italy that is

[@georgeraymond3955]

Who are the 25 idiots who hit the thumbs down button for this story?

[@billmoyer3254]

I'm one. this video is escapist BS

[@georgeraymond3955]

You're a killjoy Bill.

[@chickensalad5591]

"life's to short to not want to be italian" wtf

[@MalteseKat]

Life's too short to not want to be amerikan

[@chickensalad5591]

@@MalteseKat wtf

[@Shadowdreamcast]

@@MalteseKat bro what??

[@quijote8277]

Nice.....but they dont speak italian Learn your language is very important. But the italian-american ..they don want learn italian language.

[@lauraz2896]

Phil is handsome

[@Schlabbeflicker]

If they still retain citizenship from relatives who arrived before WW2, wouldn't that have made them enemy aliens and subject to deportation? AKA what happened to the Sudeten Germans in Czechoslovakia after WW2?

[@jessicacole8404]

No. Having Italien blood means you can become a citizen

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

Some non naturalized Italian Americans were interred in camps. Deporting them to Italy in the midst of a war would have been stupid.

[@jwfusa]

It's comical that someone would leave the US for Italy because of political issues. If that's the motivation, those people will be sorely disappointed. Italians change governments more often then they change their shoes.

[@DAVIDEPWDD]

it works for those that got $$$$$$$$$$$$$

[@pascalfl2610]

When I look at Italy all I see is great potential. But the country is straggling big because of corruption. Long Mediterranean coast line, Mountains Alps and history great for tourism. No need advertising Italian food that most of us wants to eat. Many other industries like fashion, architecture, cars, machinery, sea shipping, small appliances,

[@MalteseKat]

Like there's no corruption here!?

[@aaskyboi]

And yet if you were born and raised in Italy, you have to wait until you turn 18 to apply for citizenship, provided your parents' ancestors are not from Italy. And even then that person may be denied citizenship! It seems absurd that a person, who from birth, was raised in Italy is not considered an Italian, even though that person speaks only Italian, has an Italian accent, has been practicing Italian culture day-in and day-out for 18 years--or beyond. But a person who was not born or raised in Italy and could care less about the country has automatic rights for citizenship, based on the false assertion that the person has "Italian blood." What does that exactly mean? As far as I know, blood types are A+, A- B+, B-, O+, O, AB+, AB-. I had no idea that there was an Italian blood type. How is Italian blood different from the aforementioned? It would be informative if CBS Sunday Morning were to investigate, objectively, the history of this law and why it still exists.

[@geoben1810]

I'm not Mexican, but I retired to Baja California MX. 3 years ago. Living in a small, comfortable, furnished apartment near the beach in a quiet little beach town for $500 USD a month total. Rent, utilities, groceries, etc Life is simple here. Viva Mexico! 😊 🇺🇸✌🇲🇽

[@catherineciarrocchi4372]

What this news story neglected to report is that the Italian blood line must be paternal. Maternal doesn't count.

[@louis-vd3ur]

Maternal does count, but only after a certain year.

[@cynthiacopland8634]

That’s a shame to cut out Noni

[@susiecosner8384]

They’ve been accepting material for many years.

[@edgarartis1260]

GIRL DANCING IN THE PURPLE DRESS IS HOT

[@ritadaniels3175]

ALL THE SEASONED CBS Employees got to make the trip to Italy...Life was different in Italy generations ago! USA would be divided right now no matter who is in charge....

[@purberri]

Best vacation ever Florence and Tuscany. The blood transfer citizenship is old school rather racist

[@billmoyer3254]

looks like she likes the food more than the culture

[@kaycox5555]

Good - let 'em all move back there!

[@MalteseKat]

That's right.Amerikkkans don't like ferinners. Neither do the indigenous people.

[@charliebeau4265]

The wakeful luttuce immunochemically rot because show philosophically marry outside a brawny adapter. madly, cynical yacht

[@fabbehn0190]

But yet Black Italians cant get citizenship even though they were born there! Oh PLEASE!

[@katherineb.3140]

My ancestors left a chaotic Italy in the 1840’s. They went through a lot so that I can live free. Nope. I am American. I honor my ancestors for paving the way. Freedom isn’t free.

[@Hastdupech8509]

It doesn't mean that you can't change something you inherited (like the place you were born and live in) just because your ancestors did certain things and choices. I was born in Italy because my ancestors have always resided here... aaand? It's not that bad to change place if you like your new country. If you're fascinated by the way of living of, say, France and love it, it is positive to go there and try it. New experiences🙃 P.S.: is 1840 a typo or is it correct? Because, wow, it's a lot of time ago

[@johnle5908]

3rd comment

[@deadsouls72]

White-flight.

[@bakerstreet101]

Wow, how awesome is that. Benefit from the European welfare state. No more healthcare worries.

[@godblesschild808]

I see Italian every time I go to grocery hope that Italian girl like African sausage cause it's not German haha

[@Historian212]

Okay, but those laws come from an era before science determined that there's no such thing as "Italian blood" (or any other kind of ethnic blood). Benign as this usage of the concept seems, it's utterly racist and has no place in the modern world. No one, including CBS, should be celebrating it or spreading this utterly false and ultimately divisive idea, which is based on no science at all. Companies like Ancestry are making a fortune from telling people that you can slice and dice ethnicity and dictate who and what someone is by analyzing someone's DNA and comparing it to research populations the company rather arbitrarily designates. Ethnicity is cultural, not genetic. Individual traits can be inherited -- like brown eyes -- but those physical features don't make you Italian, African, or any other ethnicity or nationality. By talking about some kind of blood-borne connection, this piece spreads false information. At any rate, if you don't have a paper trail showing descent from people who lived in a particular region, those DNA tests are pretty much useless. They prove nothing, and mean very little about who you are.

[@minger42]

How is it raciest Debbie downer?

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

You are absolutely right about the uselessness of DNA tests. I have a paper trail going back 400 years on my ancestry.

[@robpaul2004]

Surprise Surprise. A story about Italy and a cheap shot at Trump. America has always been divided.

[@felichia808]

@James Dowds The media's responsibility is to critique the president.

[@ohmario1882]

You're as whiney and pathetic as our cry baby-in-chief.

[@denisestampley116]

What happened to U.S.A. pride? Good riddance.

[@MalteseKat]

Pride before the fall

[@jacqdanieles]

@D Jack - We heard the "love it or leave it" idiocy from the Vietnam War supporters. Some things never change.

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

I did not love it, so I left it. So shut up.

[@waynemiracle8928]

Bologna! America is the best country in the world! Why does the whole world want to immigrate here? I’m very proud of my ancestral country of origin, but I’m more proud to be an American! This was a nice story until the producers had to insert politics and democratic propaganda bologna!

[@jessicacole8404]

It might be hard for you to believe, but there are multiple places in the world that people migrate too.

[@lucianomezzetta4332]

That is your opinion. It is NOT shared by everyone.