In May 2026, Dr. Elizabeth Aranda, Director of the Im/migrant Well-being Research Center at the ×îÐÂÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, presented her ongoing research at the XLIV International Congress of the Latin American Studies Association (LASA 2026), held May 26-30, 2026 in Paris, France. The congress, themed "Republic and Revolution," marked the 60th anniversary of LASA and brought together scholars to reflect on Latin America and the Caribbean within the broader global context of struggles for decolonization, democracy, and social justice.
Dr. Aranda's presentation, "Puerto Ricans’ Territorial Citizenship, Racialized Legal Status, and Implications for Social Incorporation," explores how Puerto Ricans' distinctive form of citizenship shapes their experiences of discrimination and belonging on the US mainland. Although Puerto Ricans have held US citizenship since 1917, this citizenship is territorial in nature. The research examines how this racialized legal status positions Puerto Ricans at the margins of multiple social groups, neither fully recognized as Americans nor categorized alongside immigrant communities, and what that in-between status means for their process of social incorporation.
The presentation also goes over how participants themselves interpret and make sense of discriminatory experiences. Some minimize or dismiss discrimination, others engage in self-blame, while other emphazise the privileges that come with US citizenship, even after acknowledging the discrimination they face. The ongoing study contributes to conversations around the Documentation Status Continuum and how Puerto Ricans' unique legal position shapes their pathways to social incorporation in ways that differ from both native-born citizens and immigrant communites.
Forthcoming publications based on this research are expected.