Aldo Bellei Case, 1969 - 1977

File — Box: 5, Folder: 1

Scope and Contents

From the Series:

These files pertain to the amicus curiae brief submitted by the Association of American Wives of Europeans (AAWE) (Paris, France) on behalf of Aldo Bellei in Rogers vs Bellei October Term, 1969.

Aldo Bellei Challenged Section 301(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act which required five years of continuous residence in the United States between the ages of 14 and 28 (in order to maintain American citizenship) for all children born overseas of one U.S. citizen parent and an alien parent. The Supreme Court decision was not favorable to Bellei, but the AAWE carried on the effort in Congress. A new law dated October 27, 1972, reduced the required residence period to two years. The Eilberg Citizenship law signed on October, 10, 1978 eliminated the residence requirement altogether.

Subsequent legislative action undertaken by American groups in France and Switzerland is described in The Unknown Ambassadors, by Phyllis Michaux. Alethia Publications, Putname Valley, N.Y., 1996.

The time period covered by these documents is between July 1969 and October 1977.

Dates

1969 - 1977

Conditions Governing Access

Most manuscripts collections at the Georgetown University Booth Family Center for Special Collections are open to researchers; however, restrictions may apply to some collections. Collections stored off site require a minimum of three days for retrieval. For use of all manuscripts collections, researchers are advised to contact the Booth Family Center for Special Collections in advance of any visit.