48 U.S.C. § 733 : US Code - Section 733: Citizens; former Spanish subjects and children; body politic; name

Search 48 U.S.C. § 733 : US Code - Section 733: Citizens; former Spanish subjects and children; body politic; name

All inhabitants continuing to reside in Puerto Rico who were
Spanish subjects on the 11th day of April 1899, and then resided in
Puerto Rico, and their children born subsequent thereto, shall be
deemed and held to be citizens of Puerto Rico, and as such entitled
to the protection of the United States, except such as shall have
elected to preserve their allegiance to the Crown of Spain on or
before the 11th day of April 1900, in accordance with the
provisions of the treaty of peace between the United States and
Spain entered into on the 11th day of April 1899; and they,
together with such citizens of the United States as may reside in
Puerto Rico, shall constitute a body politic under the name of the
People of Puerto Rico, with governmental powers as hereinafter
conferred, and with power to sue and be sued as such.