If Puerto Ricans voted for independence, what would the U.S. do?

Right now the only choices being seriously considered are maintaining commonwealth status and statehood. While I can understand the emotional desire for independence, Puerto Rico is a very poor protectorate (it would replace Mississippi as the poorest state if things went that way) that would become a desperately poor country for at least a significant period of time. I think most people understand that.

But if they voted in favor of independence, I think we'd repeal the Foraker Act and let them go their own way. Given that there is no strategic reason to keep them now, the only real issue would be dealing with the influx of Puerto Ricans rushing to get here while presence within our borders confers automatic full citizenship. And that might be offset, at least to some degree, by people going back to take part in building the new country.

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