Dear Sir,

Regarding the recent Letter to the Editor “Let’s get it right: Puerto Ricans are not Americans” (February 4, 2019), we would like to correct the writer’s misperception.

All children born in and subject, at the time of birth, to the jurisdiction of the United States acquire US citizenship at birth. Pursuant to US law, the term “United States”, when used in a geographical sense, means the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands of the United States.

One of the most important tasks of the Department of State, and of US embassies and consulates, is to provide assistance to US citizens abroad.

As such, we stand ready to assist all US citizens and their families within the limits of our authority in accordance with international law.

CONSTANCE M. DIERMAN

United States Consul General