Political and academic circles in Spain are examining a novel proposal to grant Spanish and, by extension, European Union citizenship to Puerto Ricans with ancestors born in Spanish Puerto Rico before 1898.
Led by Spanish legal expert Rafael Maldonado de Guevara and pro-Spanish groups in Puerto Rico, the initiative seeks to address what he describes as the “denaturalization” of Puerto Ricans, individuals who lost their Spanish citizenship when Spain ceded Puerto Rico to the United States via the Treaty of Paris after the Spanish-American War of 1898.
The proposed legislation, referred to as “Ley de Nacionalidad Reparativa,” is directly inspired by Spain’s 2015 Sephardic law, which granted citizenship to descendants of Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. While that law was celebrated as a correction of historical injustices and a gesture of cultural acknowledgment, this new proposal similarly aims to restore nationality to Puerto Ricans who, through no fault of their own, lost their Spanish citizenship 127 years ago.
For many Puerto Ricans, this initiative holds deep emotional significance. It offers not just a chance for dual nationality but also an opportunity to reclaim their Hispanic heritage, a cultural and linguistic identity they have maintained despite over a century of U.S. colonial rule and failed assimilation policies.
Puerto Ricans resisted and defeated U.S. assimilation and English-only policies and have remained persistently Spanish-speaking, Catholic and culturally Latin American, even as Washington imposed U.S. citizenship in 1917 against the wishes of the Puerto Rican people.
In 1914, Puerto Rico’s democratically elected House of Delegates unanimously rejected U.S. citizenship and demanded independence; however, the U.S. government ignored Puerto Rico’s demands. Three years later, Congress imposed U.S. citizenship on Puerto Ricans so they could be drafted into World War I. Since then, Puerto Ricans have fought and died in every U.S. war, yet they remain second-class citizens, denied the right to vote for president or have full congressional representation.
Now, the Spanish proposal is reigniting pride and excitement among Puerto Ricans who want to distance themselves from the United States and reaffirm their connection to the wider Spanish and Hispanic world. Many in Puerto Rico view Spanish citizenship not as a nostalgic gesture but as a practical and respectful step forward — a recognition of identity, opportunity and global connection.
If approved, the law would not automatically grant Spanish citizenship. Applicants would have to:
—Prove genealogical ties to Puerto Rican ancestors who were Spanish citizens in 1898. Most Puerto Ricans can establish such familial ties.
—Demonstrate linguistic and cultural competence, passing exams in the Spanish language and knowledge of Spain’s history, culture and constitution.
—Hold a clean criminal record.
Notably, Spain and the United States permit dual citizenship under specific circumstances. Therefore, Puerto Ricans can acquire Spanish nationality without giving up their U.S. citizenship — although many view this as a symbolic gesture of rejecting U.S. colonial dominance.
The reaction in Puerto Rico has been overwhelmingly positive. Throughout the island and among its diaspora, social media and community groups are full of excitement. Many see it as an opportunity to work, study and travel freely to Spain and across 27 European Union countries — rights and opportunities that U.S. citizenship alone does not offer. Others view it as an opportunity to connect with Spain, the country that shares their language, faith and culture.
The symbolism is clear: While U.S. statehood supporters claim Puerto Ricans are proud Americans, thousands (possibly millions) are eagerly hoping and preparing to become Spanish citizens instead. That reality reveals the statehood narrative’s weakening foundation. People longing for a dignified connection with Spain, not Washington, cannot genuinely be seen as wanting to join the American union.
Would any reasonable American consider that a territory that prefers Spanish citizenship over U.S. citizenship should be the 51st state? Of course not.
For decades, U.S. policymakers have ignored and overlooked Puerto Rican identity, assuming that Americanization and assimilation were unavoidable. Obviously, assimilation failed. This proposal from Spain proves otherwise. It highlights the cultural resilience and resistance of a nation that endured colonialism and preserved its Hispanic identity, culture, language and spirit.
Puerto Ricans have repeatedly shown they are not, nor do they consider themselves to be, Americans. They are Puerto Ricans, descendants of a proud Spanish, Caribbean and Latin American civilization.
If Spain approves this law, it will not only acknowledge its historical and moral duty but also provide Puerto Ricans with a genuine connection to Europe and the global Hispanic world. For many, this would be more than just a passport; it would be a symbol of identity, pride and their place in the global Spanish and Hispanic community, which values and respects their culture.
This moment serves as a wake-up call for Washington and the American people. Puerto Ricans, despite being U.S. citizens, are not Americans. When hundreds of thousands or potentially millions of Puerto Ricans choose to embrace Spanish citizenship, it exposes an uncomfortable truth: Puerto Rico’s heart has never been truly American. The island nation’s future lies not in annexation, but in sovereignty — a path that allows Puerto Rico to foster strong relationships with Spain, the European Union, Latin America, and, indeed, the United States as equals and partners rather than subjects.
A Puerto Rico that prefers Spanish citizenship over American statehood is sending a clear message: It is time for the United States to let Puerto Rico go.
