The majority of Puerto Rico voters have chosen statehood as their preferred political status four times — that’s every status vote held this century. Congress can admit states without holding a status vote (they did that, for example, in Alabama and in California), but the federal government in recent years has emphasized the desire to have a final, federally supported referendum before admitting Puerto Rico. This was part of the Puerto Rico Status Act, which passed the House (but didn’t get a vote in the Senate) in 2022.
While Rep. Darren Soto told El Nuevo Dia that he would include the current territorial status if he reintroduces the bill, the previous bill included only the permanent — that is, non-territorial — options. A territory can always become a state or an independent nation, so territory status is not permanent, by definition. For people seeking to end the colonial relationship of Puerto Rico and the United States, a permanent political status is the goal.
We already know what life in Puerto Rico is like when Puerto Rico is a territory, and there are 50 states to look at to see how the Island might choose to be as a sovereign state of the United States. But what would daily life be like for a Free Associated State of Puerto Rico or an independent Republic of Puerto Rico? Let’s explore the possibilities and try for a realistic assessment of the alternatives.
Federal laws
Puerto Rico is currently subject to U.S. federal laws, in spite of repeated attempts by “commonwealth” supporters to escape that reality. Puerto Rico would continue to be subject to federal laws as a state. Any topic not covered in federal laws, including the U.S. Constitution, would be up to Puerto Rico. So decisions about language, education, local taxes, and the like would be up to the elected officials of the state. Congress has plenary power over territories, but states have sovereignty and rights which territories do not. Still, they must follow federal law. What about separate nations?
A new nation of Puerto Rico, with or without a Compact of Free Association, would not be subject to U.S. federal laws. A Republic of Puerto Rico could reinstate cockfighting if they cared to. They could write up a new constitution with no input from the U.S. Congress. They could become the People’s Democratic Republic of Puerto Rico if the leaders chose.
It is impossible to predict what laws Puerto Rico would pass, because it would be up to the new leaders of the new nation. The United States would have no control over this, and the voters of Puerto Rico might or might not have control, depending on the leaders.
With or without a Compact of Free Association, the new nation of Puerto Rico would also have no control over the laws of the United States. That means that laws about U.S. citizenship and immigration and trade and foreign aid would be up to the leaders and voters of the United States, not the leaders or the voters of Puerto Rico. Separatists often imply that Puerto Rico would somehow be able to ensure that Puerto Ricans maintain U.S. citizenship and financial support, but that would simply not be the case. Each nation is responsible for its own laws.
Economy
As a state, Puerto Rico would gain a level playing field with current states. We believe that Puerto Rico would then be able to achieve according to the capacity and capabilities of the Island and its people. Like every previous territory that has become a state (and there have been 32 of them), Puerto Rico would see greater profitability without the depressing effect of the current colonial state. Both U.S. history — the experiences of all previous territories which are now states — and the successes of Puerto Ricans in spite of territory status show that prosperity would increase.
If Puerto Rico became independent, it’s harder to predict. Some small independent nations, such as Singapore, have been prosperous. A long-term study found that small islands that become independent usually do not thrive economically. The authors of that study concluded that richer colonies became richer countries, too, and Puerto Rico is currently richer than most Latin American nations, so Puerto Rico may be able to remain financially comfortable. The outcome would certainly depend on the policies of the new leaders, how many more residents leave a newly independent Puerto Rico, and what kinds of relationships the new nation is able to develop with other countries. All these matters are hard to foresee.
However, one of the most important factors in the equation is how much support the United States gives Puerto Rico. Among separatists who envision a comfortable economic future for Puerto Rico, the plan invariably rests on the assumption that the United States will continue the current level of financial support or even increase it. Historically, the United States has not been that generous with former possessions. A Compact of Free Association is a negotiated treaty, and the terms of such a treaty could not be predicted before it is worked out. However, it might lead to more financial support in exchange for military access.
Looking at former colonies around the world, including the United States, we can see that some have prospered economically and some have not. All have experienced hardship upon gaining independence, but independence is neither a consistent benefit nor a curse. Haiti, the first independent Caribbean nation, is one of the poorest and most politically unstable nations in the world. Barbados, independent since 1966, has a strong economy and a relatively low poverty rate.
Culture
Money isn’t everything. Some separatists, especially those who have no expectation of actually going through the hardships of independence personally, are convinced that Puerto Rico would lose local culture under statehood, but would maintain it as an independent nation.
Anthropologists who study the question say that the political status of a group is less important than the outlook of the people. A conservative. tradition-oriented culture is more likely to maintain traditional cultural patterns than a nation that values innovation. Groups like the Amish, the Basque, the Maori, and the Navajo are examples of cultures which have sustained their traditional ways of life while living alongside diverse populations.
Puerto Rico is already strongly integrated into the United States. More Puerto Ricans live in states than on the Island. And yet Puerto Rican culture not only thrives, but influences arts and culture not only across the U.S. but globally. Decisions made in a state or nation of Puerto Rico could affect Puerto Rican culture, but the evidence does not support a claim that political status would be key.
Civil rights
Statehood and nationhood would provide sovereignty, which a territory does not have. Under all three of the non-territorial status options, Puerto Rico would have a strong voice in its government.
Civil rights in the United States are generally robust; that is an important part of American values. Some states have stronger protection for civil rights than others, because states have the right to make their own decisions. However, statehood would guarantee equality under the law and the full protection of the U.S. Constitution.
A new nation of Puerto Rico would make its own decisions on civil rights. The original Puerto Rico constitution and the actions of Puerto Ricans throughout our history suggest that civil rights would be important in such a new nation, but we cannot predict with certainty, since we don’t know who the leadership would be. Singapore is not known for its civil rights record, to look at one of our earlier examples, while Barbados protects its citizens’ civil rights comparatively well. Independence is neither a guarantee of civil rights nor an obstacle to them.
Statehood
The future for an independent nation of Puerto Rico, with or without a Compact of Free Association, would be uncertain. We are confident that Puerto Rico would be able to succeed as an independent nation over the long term, if the people favored independence and were willing to endure the hardships it would undoubtedly bring. The fantasy that the United States would provide lavish financial support and generous trade terms should not be the foundation of plans for independence or free association; the resilience and capacity of the Puerto Rican people should be. The fact that Puerto Rico voters do not want independence should be a hint that it’s not the best option.
Statehood, on the other hand, is the logical next step for Puerto Rico. Equal rights and full constitutional protection would remove the obstacles that territory status puts in the way of success for the Island. Let your representatives know that you want to see statehood for Puerto Rico.
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