"Alien - an American sovereign in his probationary state"

This quote by Ambrose Bierce is describing the principle of an alien in the United States. An alien is somebody who is not a person of the United States, and is instead a citizen of another country. The quote is suggesting that an alien is in a probationary state, meaning that they remain in a period of testing or evaluation. This might refer to the procedure of ending up being a resident of the United States, which involves a series of tests and examinations. The quote is likewise recommending that an alien is a sovereign, implying that they have the same rights and responsibilities as a person of the United States. This might describe the truth that aliens are protected by the same laws and regulations as citizens, and are expected to follow the same laws and regulations. Ultimately, this quote is suggesting that aliens are in a probationary state, and are expected to be dealt with as sovereigns in the United States.