Christina Duffy Ponsa

Virginia Journal of International Law, 2008

Abstract

The American papers sometimes contain tales about persons who have forgotten who they are, what are their names, and where they live. The Porto [sic] Ricans find themselves in the same predicament as those absent-minded people. To what nationality do they belong? What is the character of their citizenship? … [I]f since they ceased to be Spanish citizens they have not been Americans [sic] citizens, what in the name of heaven have they been?’

View the paper here: “They say I am not an American…”: The Noncitizen National and the Law of American Empire