Puerto Ricans have been U.S. citizens since March 2, 1917, when Congress passed the Jones–Shafroth Act granting collective U.S. citizenship to people living in Puerto Rico.

Quick Scoop: Key Facts

  • The Jones–Shafroth Act was signed into law on March 2, 1917.
  • It granted U.S. citizenship collectively to most residents of Puerto Rico, while allowing a short window for people to formally refuse it in court.
  • Later laws, including the Nationality Act of 1940, confirmed that people born in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens at birth, now codified in 8 U.S.C. § 1402.

Short Timeline

  1. 1898 – The U.S. takes control of Puerto Rico from Spain after the Spanish–American War (Treaty of Paris).
  1. 1899–1917 – Puerto Ricans are U.S. nationals but not yet full statutory citizens; their status is in flux.
  1. 1917 – Jones–Shafroth Act grants U.S. citizenship to Puerto Rico residents on March 2, 1917.
  1. 1934 & 1940 – Later acts extend and clarify that virtually all people born in Puerto Rico after April 11, 1899 are U.S. citizens at birth.

Why This Still Comes Up Today

Even though Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico is a territory, not a state, which affects voting in presidential elections, congressional representation, and how some federal laws apply. This gap between citizenship and full political rights is a big reason the question “when did Puerto Ricans become citizens?” keeps trending in news, forums, and debates about statehood and territorial status.

In many online discussions, people are surprised to learn that over three million U.S. citizens live in Puerto Rico, a larger population than several states, yet lack full voting representation in Congress.

TL;DR: Puerto Ricans became U.S. citizens on March 2, 1917, under the Jones–Shafroth Act, with later laws locking in birthright U.S. citizenship for people born in Puerto Rico.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.