Democratic National Committee opposes proposal to end birthright citizenship in Puerto Rico

By THE STAR STAFF

The Democratic National Committee (DNC) has formally rejected a congressional proposal that would eliminate automatic U.S. citizenship for children born in Puerto Rico and other U.S. territories, warning that the measure underscores the vulnerability of territorial residents under current federal law.

The resolution, advanced by the Democratic Party of Puerto Rico and ratified during the DNC’s Summer Meeting in Austin, Texas, affirms statehood as the party’s principal status alternative for the island and calls for a definitive legislative solution to Puerto Rico’s political future.

Luis D. Dávila Pernas, president of the Puerto Rico Democratic Party and a DNC member, said the proposal highlights the fragility of statutory citizenship for territorial residents. “Puerto Ricans proudly treasure our American citizenship, but while Puerto Rico remains a territory, that citizenship rests on a statutory foundation subject to Congress,” he said. He argued that only statehood can permanently secure citizenship rights.

The resolution directly opposes H.R. 9724, a bill introduced by Republican Rep. Morgan Griffith, which seeks to restrict birthright citizenship in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and other territories when parents are not U.S. citizens. The DNC stated that the legislation demonstrates how fundamental rights can be altered under the territorial system and reinforces the urgency of resolving Puerto Rico’s status.

Party leaders also reaffirmed support for the Puerto Rico Status Act and pledged that, if Democrats regain control of Congress and the White House, they will prioritize legislation offering a binding statehood option to the island.

Dávila Pernas noted that Puerto Rico has rejected territorial status in four plebiscites — 2012, 2017, 2020, and 2024 — and has repeatedly favored statehood. In the 2024 vote, conducted using the definitions outlined in the Puerto Rico Status Act, statehood received 58.61% support.

The resolution further commits the DNC to working with Democratic leaders in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa to advance equality, democratic governance, and full constitutional protections for U.S. citizens living in the territories.

The Puerto Rico Democratic Party is the island’s official affiliate of the national Democratic Party and advocates for economic development, civil rights, and full equality for U.S. citizens residing in Puerto Rico.