This paper examines the nature of postcolonial citizenship as a concept for understanding the status of citizens of the metropole who have migrated from, or are descendants of migrants from former colonies. I believe that situating modern debates about citizenship and nationality in a historical context with an eye to the knowledge constructed in the colonial/early modern period will help inform many studies of these ongoing debates throughout the world both in former metropoles and even former colonies. This paper will focus on postcolonial citizens of France primarily from France's former North African colonies. The paper will combine a historical survey of citizenship laws in Algeria with a review of contemporary debates in France regarding citizenship, and the French national identity. The paper will highlight the relationship between previous laws that required of Algerians the renunciation of a Muslim civil status in order to acquire French citizenship (such as the Senatus Consulte of 1865 and the Jonnart Laws of 1919) with an ongoing discomfort in France concerning religious Muslims and their ability to be full French citizens. The paper will review the discourse utilized in debates on banning headscarves in schools and the "burqa" in public buildings. It will also examine the establishment of the ministry of immigration, integration, national identity and co-development as well as the recent "Grand Debat" on French national identity sparked by President Nicolas Sarkozy. These sources will offer us both official codified views on citizenship and nationality for French Muslims, particularly practicing ones, along with information on the public discourse and debates regarding these matters. The paper will draw on historical studies of French laws and colonialism in Algeria, as well as contemporary laws, government studies and public statements by officials. An additional source for the study will be the public debate as it takes place in the printed media, primarily major French newspapers. This data will be supplemented by interviews I conducted in Paris, France in the winter of 2007-2008 and an interview conducted on my behalf in the spring of 2008 with a representative of the ministry of immigration, integration, national identity and co-development.