The prefecture of Santa Maria Maggiore canceled this week three residences of Brazilian citizens who were undergoing the process for recognition of Italian citizenship in the city.
The action is the result of the unfolding of operation 'Super Santos' carried out by the police Verbania, at Piedmont, in March this year, and which investigated suspicious citizenship practices.
According to Luigi Spadone, official responsible for the demographic service, the County did not accept the allegations made by the Brazilian defense. “One of the pillars was the lack of the subjective element of residency, which is the desire to live permanently in Italian territory and not stay only for the time necessary to obtain citizenship,” said Spadone. The Brazilians have already left the accommodation.
The municipality's argument is open to interpretation and can be appealed. There is no pre-established timeframe in the circulars regulating the Italian citizenship process for establishing residency in Italy.
Having a fixed address is one of the requirements for those entitled to Italian citizenship to apply for recognition on Italian soil – and consequently avoid the illegal queues at Italian consulates that can exceed 10 years of waiting.
Read also Administrative or judicial: the legal paths to obtaining Italian citizenship
