Puerto Ricans began to arrive in New York City in the nineteenth century .
Puerto Ricans especially following the passage of the Jones - Shafroth Act on March 2 , 1917 , which granted U.S. citizenship to virtually all Puerto Ricans .
Puerto Ricans began to arrive in New York City in the nineteenth century but especially following the passage of the Jones - Shafroth Act on March 2 , 1917 , which granted U.S. citizenship to virtually all Puerto Ricans .