As previously mentioned, individuals born in Puerto Rico but residing in the United States might encounter a complex scenario if Puerto Rico were to gain independence. Depending on the terms of the relationship between the United States and a newly established Republic of Puerto Rico, citizens living in the U.S. who were born in Puerto Rico could risk losing their U.S. citizenship or might have to make a choice between U.S. and Puerto Rican citizenship. When the Philippines gained its independence, Filipinos in the U.S., who were U.S. nationals at that time, were offered a simplified naturalization process if they wished to become U.S. citizens. This model could be beneficial for Puerto Ricans, yet there is no guarantee that a quick route to U.S. citizenship would be available.
Fast-Tracked U.S. Citizenship
Shortly after World War II and just before the Philippines attained independence, Filipino veterans of the U.S. armed forces were able to become U.S. citizens through a straightforward process managed by the military. Approximately 7,000 of these veterans gained naturalization prior to independence. The Philippine government protested, noting that they were losing valuable personnel needed in the fledgling nation. As a result of their concerns, the U.S. ceased offering this type of expedited citizenship in 1945.
The Luce-Celler Act of 1946 permitted individuals from the Philippines to become naturalized U.S. citizens for the first time. However, it imposed a limit of only 100 individuals, which was significantly fewer than the number seeking citizenship. Many Filipinos opted to remain in the U.S. and hoped to avoid deportation.
What Became of Filipinos in the U.S. Following Independence?
Typically, individuals who are already legal permanent residents in the United States take about two years to apply for and obtain citizenship. They usually cannot initiate the process until they have resided in the U.S. as a legal permanent resident for five years. For individuals born in Puerto Rico, it would be feasible for Congress to waive the residency stipulation if there is sufficient political backing.
Uncertain Future
However, there is no certainty that this would occur, and there is certainly little precedent for it. For instance, the U.S. shares particularly close ties with three Pacific Island nations – Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia – collectively known as the freely associated states (FAS). Citizens of the FAS even serve in the U.S. military, despite not holding U.S. citizenship. During the most recent renewal of the FAS agreements, there was a proposal for a fast-tracked process for granting U.S. citizenship to citizens of the freely associated states; however, it did not succeed.
“However, all too frequently, Compact citizens residing in the U.S. encounter obstacles that green-card holders do not,” remarked Dr. Peter Watson, an authority on the Freely Associated States and a member of the U.S.-Palau Economic Advisory Group. “A pathway to citizenship available to immigrants from non-Compact nations is not extended to those from Compact nations.”
No expedited U.S. citizenship procedures exist even for our closest allies. In light of the current political climate, it would be unrealistic to anticipate a streamlined U.S. citizenship process for Puerto Ricans living on the mainland if Puerto Rico were to achieve independence (with or without free association). It is likely that there would have to be some mechanism for documenting Puerto Ricans living in the states, as they would be viewed as foreigners post-independence, meaning the U.S. would need to maintain some record. They would probably then be given the chance to acquire constitutional U.S. citizenship. However, they might have to endure considerable delays, and the potential threat of deportation could be a source of anxiety for those who decide to stay in the U.S.
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