As I understand the situation under existing law any naturalized American citizen loses his citizenship if he resides abroad 5 years. Since Puerto Ricans have been declared to be naturalized American citizens that law would operate against Puerto Ricans living outside this country beyond the 5year period. As this bill was introduced it permitted a Puerto Rican to live more than 5 years outside the United States provided he periodically submitted a statement to his Government that it was his intention to return. The Committee on Immigration. however. has stricken out the original bill and inserted a new provision which in effect places all Puerto Ricans on the same basis as nativeborn American citizenz so far as the Nationality Act of 1940 is concerned. I raise this question now simply for the purpose of bringing to the attention of the House the fact of what is being done. The effect of the bill is to confer upon all Puerto Ricans the status of nativeborn Ameriern citizens as far as the Nationality Act of 1940 is concerned.
Keywords matched
Immigration naturalized