Ethan Nichols is scheduled to return to Italy tomorrow afternoon, following his abduction on 30 August, when he was taken from his Italian mother and taken to the United States by his father, who then became untraceable along with the child.
“I am pleased that little Ethan can finally return home,” commented Minister Tajani, highlighting the Italian Government’s constant commitment to protecting Italian nationals abroad, particularly minors. “I have personally followed this case from the beginning, and I am delighted with this important result, which is the outcome of effective teamwork among the Italian institutions involved, as well as the prompt and decisive action of the American authorities”.
From the very start of the case, following Minister Tajani’s instructions and with the swift intervention of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Italian Embassy in Washington and the entire Italian consular network in the United States worked closely with U.S. authorities to locate the child. Thanks also to the joint efforts of other Italian government bodies involved, on 19 November 2024, Ethan was finally found by the California police and reunited with his mother in the U.S., pending a ruling by the American court on his possible return to Italy. The Consulate General in Los Angeles, which has territorial jurisdiction, closely followed the case, raising awareness among local authorities about the importance of reaching a positive resolution and providing support to both the mother and the child. On 18 February, the U.S. judges ordered Ethan’s return home.
The child’s repatriation from the United States was also addressed by the Task Force on Contested Minors, an inter-ministerial working group chaired by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which ensures a coordinated government response to the delicate and complex issue of Italian children unlawfully taken abroad.