To be fair, that has happened quite a few times in history. American revolutionary war for instance, Hessian prisoners of war captured during the course of the fighting were released following the end of the war and given the chance to stay or return to their homes. Quite a few stayed.
That said, I certainly don't think the Enclave should have any meaningful presence within the NCR. There can't be that many there anyway. Certainly not enough to form a full state. If there is any Enclave remnants, they should just be random old individuals like the remnants in New Vegas.
True I remembered during an APUSH reading that many Hessians became American citizens because of a better life.....at least that's what it said. Need to check.
It's more like the ones in the prisons were freed, old Enclave and the descendants who's age vary. When NCR no longer prosecuted the Enclave, many of those who hided there affiliation went out and many moved to Richardson.
Lockheart was a descendant of an Enclave biomedical scientist and shrouded her affiliation secretly until NCR stopped searching for them. When she became the 3rd Head of the DSI, that is when she came out of the closet on 2282
Oh and nice post Fish.
Going to reply. NCR is going to be shocked and surprised.