American Seniors Won the Right to Live in Naples 0 10

The story of John D. Ellison (80 years old) and Jen Merete Weiss (74 years old) — a couple from the USA who have long become part of Naples — ended with a court victory and an important legal precedent. After receiving a deportation order for living without a visa, they filed a lawsuit in the administrative court — and won it.

What Happened

The couple moved from New York to Naples in 2018, settling in Piazza Bellini. They lived modestly, participated in the life of the city, helped the homeless, and led a creative life: John is a former photographer, and Jen is a writer. The catch was that they had been living without documents for years, having entered on tourist visas.

In 2024, they finally decided to legalize their status to access medical services and submitted an application for residency.

In 2025 — an unexpected blow: their application was deemed inadmissible, and they were handed a deportation order with an expulsion directive.

What the Court Decided

The sixth section of the administrative court of Naples overturned the order. The ruling stated:

"The presence of stable housing, sufficient income (3600 euros monthly pension), and no threat to society — are sufficient grounds for issuing residency, even if the law has been violated for years."

The court acknowledged: the human factor and social reality are more important than bureaucratic formality.

"We don’t want to return to the USA, especially after Trump’s victory," explains John, referring to the political situation that intensified their desire to stay in Italy.

"We are citizens of the world; we chose this city with our hearts," adds Jen.

Stella Arena, lawyer:

"This story illustrates how difficult it can be for an ordinary person to legalize their status in Italy, even if they meet all the requirements. Imagine what it’s like for those coming from places where wars are raging or poverty prevails."

Andrea Chiappetta, research lawyer:

"This case highlighted the importance of judicial independence, which can protect individual rights even against a bureaucratically formalized system."

This is not just a victory for John and Jen — it is a presumed step towards the humanization of migration legislation in cases where moral, social, and factual circumstances heavily outweigh formal violations.