In light of Puerto Rico's staggering debt crisis and economic struggles, some advocates are pushing for the island to break free from the United States and rejoin Spain.

Puerto Rico has ended up in a $72 billion debt crisis as the island's public debt has grown from 60 to 100 percent of the island's GDP within the last 15 years. The Island is also suffering from a surge of middle-class outmigration, dim economic prospects and a double-digit unemployment rate.

However, rather than pushing for Puerto Rico to become independent or adopt statehood in America, José Nieves Seise argues that Puerto Rico should become the 18th autonomous region of Spain.

"By returning to Spain, we'll have autonomy. With autonomy Puerto Rico could have sufficient powers to boost the economy and attract foreign investment," said Nieves Seise, the founder of Reunification of Puerto Rico with Spain, according to The Guardian.

Although critics say Puerto Rico had fewer freedoms under Spanish rule, Nieves Seise argues that Puerto Rico was more than just a Spanish colony.

"In reality it was an integral part of Spain. The U.S. invaded us in 1898, and they separated us against our will," he said. "Puerto Ricans love the Spanish people; we're Spanish. We want to return to the country to which we belong."

Nieves Seise also said joining Spain would give Puerto Rico an economic advantage since it would operate under the European Union umbrella, which would help the island to move forward following almost a decade of economic stagnation.

In order to actually rejoin Spain, the 1898 Treaty of Paris would have to become null. While the idea may seem far-fetched, Seise has managed to gain over 3,000 members for his group since he founded it in 2013.

So far, the movement has yet to receive a formal response from Spanish authorities about their proposal.