American Samoans both here and abroad will have to wait for another 30-plus days to see what Congressman Faleomavaega Eni and the Lolo Administration have to say about the citizenship lawsuit appeal now pending at the federal court in Washington D.C.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are five American Samoans and the lead plaintiff is local resident Leneuoti Fiafia Tuaua. They appealed the lower court’s decision, which dismissed the lawsuit and sided with the U.S. government who had argued, among other things, that only Congress has the authority to grant citizenship to the outlying territories.

While the plaintiffs have already filed written arguments in the appeal, along with their supporters who participated as ‘amici curiae’ (or friends of the court), the government had requested postponement in filing their briefs. It had first requested — and the court granted —  a postponement from June 11 to July 11, 2014.

Samoa News has covered the plaintiffs’ briefs extensively and many locals and off island American Samoans have questioned why the Congressman and the American Samoa Government have yet to make public a statement as to their stand on the appeal.

However, Samoa News should point out that Faleomavaega and Lolo must go through the scheduled process of when briefs are filed with the Appeal’s court.

Last week, the government asked for another 30-day continuance to file their briefs.

The Appeal’s court has since granted the defendant’s motion, with their briefs to be filed Aug. 11, and briefs by intervenors, which are Faleomavaega and ASG, to be filed Aug. 25.

And while the legal battle over the interpretation of the Citizenship clause of the U.S. Constitution is before the federal court, American Samoans — along with citizens of dozens of nations living in the U.S. — were able to become naturalized citizens last week.

The Associated Press reported that there were more than 100 naturalization ceremonies throughout the U.S. between July 3 and July 5, in which more than 9,000 new U.S. citizens took the oath of citizenship.

Some of the new citizens came from U.S. territories and said they're glad to finally have all the rights that U.S. citizenship entails, reported KITV in Honolulu, where there were also American Samoans who took the oath at the ceremony held in Pearl Harbor.

“Just the fact that I’m going to have a say as a citizen of the United States makes a difference. As a national, there is only  so much we can do. We can’t vote federally. I’m excited! Now I get a say in the big leagues,” said Joyce Fruen, from American Samoa, as quoted by the Honolulu television station.

Samoa News received reports of American Samoans becoming naturalized citizens in other parts of the country leading up to the 4th of July holiday, but the actual number remains unclear.