For years Congress has been saying that Puerto Rico can have a permanent political status once the people make up their minds what they want. Now, with four status votes in a row showing a majority supporting statehood, what’s required to move from a demand for statehood to admission of Puerto Rico as the 51st state?
Congress must take action
The Puerto Rico Status Act is currently pending in both the House and the Senate. This bill calls for one more referendum, this time a binding, federally sponsored one, followed by action on the part of Congress to implement the new status. This is the most direct path to statehood for Puerto Rico.
If voters choose independence under this law, Puerto Rico can become independent. However, after four clear votes favoring statehood, it is most likely that the final referendum would once again result in a majority vote for statehood.
If Congress does not want to chance losing Puerto Rico, they can instead admit Puerto Rico as a state with a simple majority vote, as Congress has done for 32 territories already. All those territories are now states.
Do we need clarification on statehood?
We have seen some calls to clarify the meaning of statehood. We already have 50 states. The Puerto Rico Constitution has already been approved by Congress. The 10th amendment makes it clear that anything not spelled out under the U.S. Constitution is under the control of the states. This would be true for Puerto Rico just as it is for the current 50 states.
Calls for clarification of statehood are nothing but delaying tactics.
Do we need more status options?
The federal government has already made it clear that the only options for Puerto Rico under the U.S. Constitution re remaining a territory, becoming a state, or gaining independence without or without a Compact of Free Association. No further options exist in the real world. There is no need to try to make up any further options.
Do we need ratification by other states?
There is a persistent false belief that all the current states must agree to the admission of a new state. This has never been required for any state in the history of the United States. There is no reason for such a rule to be put in place now.
There have also been suggestions that the American people across the country should have a referendum. Again, this has never been. requirement for any state. As it happens, the American people in general have for decades favored statehood for Puerto Rico, but a call for a national referendum is one again just a delaying tactic.
Do we need a partner state?
There is another widespread false belief: that states must be admitted in pairs. In the 19th century, it was customary for states to admitted in pairs of one slave state and one free state. Slavery is now illegal throughout the United States, so this is not relevant.
As for the more recent custom of pairing a Republican state with a Democratic one, that is not relevant for Puerto Rico. In the most recent election, Puerto Rico replaced a Democratic governor with a Republican one. Puerto Rico is neither Democratic nor Republican and does not need a balancing partner state. Statehood is a bipartisan issue.
We need Congressional action
We are closer to statehood than ever before. The American people are becoming more aware of the inequality of Puerto Rico and less patient with Congress’s inaction. We must insist that Congress take action to end the colonial relationship of Puerto Rico with the United States and admit Puerto Rico to the Union.
One response
“NO Federal VOTE or just Representation = NO Democracy or a Tyranny of a Majority!”
Our Federal Government can end this unjust inequity now; amend/revoke unfair Laws that limit progress. But instead, some politically distort; spin; misinform; stereotype; provide meritless EXCUSES that blame the Victim; create double standards not applied to Other US Citizens! This results in confusion & stalemate–that perpetuates Federal subjugation!
You can’t have both ways (either support Equal Rights or Federal Domination)!
Puerto Ricans have loyally sacrificed, defended, & greatly contributed to the development of our noble USA; cherish their US Citizenship; have locally voted to END the unjust Territorial Status in 2012, 2017, 2020, & 2024 as Majority is FOR—-
“PR Equality & Progress with STATEHOOD”
But, the Federal Government continues to provide biased excuses; doesn’t act to end Federal undemocratic control!
“Support EQUAL CIVIL RIGHTS; our REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY!”
FIX: THE TIME IS NOW-to take patriotic non-partisan ACTION-Educate (per Facts); contact our Federal Government to: ensure Equal Civil Rights/a Democracy for all “WE THE PEOPLE”; END Federal suppression (since 1898) of US Citizens-Veterans in the US Territory of PR through admission as a State or do a Plebiscite on defined Non-Territorial Options which only are: “STATEHOOD” vs “INDEPENDENCE” or “Independence with Free Association Pact”.
“We are Stronger with a Union of States!” (“En la UNIÓN está la Fuerza!”)
Our US is a diverse, but UNITED, Union of Sovereign States (the best in the World)-with STATE: Identity, Constitution, Flag, Sovereignty, etc.)—where each State complements each other; is stronger than by it-self…; brings more Progress for the Good of All!
++Only STATEHOOD guarantees a permanent US Citizenship as “statutory” US Citizens (even if residing in a State)—likely don’t have a permanent US Citizenship as its source-is the unfair “Territorial Clause”; racist “Insular Cases”; 1917 Jones Act (that can be revoked)… (Not the 14th Amendment that doesn’t mention Territories.)
+KEY FACTS/NOTES SUMMARY+
Puerto Rico’s Constitutional Status is–US Territory–per unfair/undemocratic old Territorial Clause (1787)-“US Congress shall have the Power to dispose of & make all needful rules and regulations respecting the Territory or other Property that belongs to the US…”
+“Commonwealth”/“ELA-Free Associated State” isn’t a Status in the US Constitution; has NO legal meaning; is a political distorted name to cover-up/fool People as to the true Territorial Status. Besides, the US Congress is not above the US Constitution to create a new Status or give up its Territorial Clause powers, as it allowed PR to have a Territorial Local Government (per 1950 Federal Relations Act); gave a statutory 2d Class US Citizenship (source: Territorial Clause/NOT 14th Amendment) that can likely be revoked…
+US Constitution only mentions 4 Status/forms of Government–one for: States, Territories, Indian Tribes, & District of Columbia.
• USSC Insular Cases (1901-1925+) based on racism-unjustly states-*“Puerto Rico is an “unincorporated US Territory; more foreign than domestic, belongs to, but, is not part of the US (soil)…” (not in US Constitution)- “Separate and Un-Equal Status” with limited US Constitution application/ 2d Class US Citizenship which goes against US core Values/Principles of a Representative Democracy.
+These nonsensical “double standards” were NOT applied to other US Territories before PR; are based on Racism by same Court of “Plessy vs Ferguson”(Black discrimination); condemned by Justice Marshall, Gorsuch, Sotomayor, & Others, who rightly support revoking them…
End PR Territorial Status Plebiscite–defined definitions summary (Example, per Facts; not Political distortion)–
+STATEHOOD-MEANS: Admission to our diverse “UNION of STATES”—united under our US Constitution, Laws, & Representative Democracy; EQUAL & permanent US Citizenship with– full Rights, Benefits, and Responsibilities;
PR-STATE Identity, Constitution, Flag, Sovereignty, etc.–as other States & US Citizens have under our noble US Flag…
+INDEPENDENCE- MEANS: Puerto Rico National Sovereignty under PR Constitution/ Laws, PR Citizenship…; with loss of US Jurisdiction-Constitution & Statutory US Citizenship Rights, and Benefits…
o INDEPENDENCE with Free Association PACT-MEANS: Puerto Rico National Sovereignty under PR Constitution/ Laws, PR Citizenship…; with loss of US Jurisdiction-Constitution & Statutory US Citizenship Rights, and Benefits… But, with a negotiated PACT between Independent Nations on Terms (like trade, defense, etc.) that can be terminated by either side…
+Free Association is a Pact between Independent Nations (with own Citizenship), like: Marshal Islands, Palau, & Micronesia.
+US Congress must protect statutory US Citizens in the States or let them Vote because the outcome affects them…
• US Citizenship (Types/Basis/Sources): (See 8th USC Code-NATIONALITY & NATURALIZATION)
1. Individual Birthright Citizenship (permanent)-Code §1401- “jus soli” (right of soil) per 14th Amendment-States: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States…are citizens of the US and of the State wherein they reside.” US Territories or Unincorporated Insular Possessions–are NOT mentioned nor have full Constitutional Rights/ Equal protection…(See “Insular Cases”/Other)
2. Individual Naturalization US Citizenship (permanent) (8 USC Code-Naturalization)-per 14th Amendment–process through which individual immigrants from other Countries can become US Citizens… (PR isn’t under this part/Code.)
3. Acquired Citizenship- “jus sanguinis”-right of blood by descent (8 U.S. Code § 1401/ § 1409/ § 1431/ § 1433) those individuals born in other Countries that acquired US Citizenship from their US Citizen Parents…
4. Collective Statutory US Citizenship (non-permanent) Code §1402-per the unfair US Territorial Clause & racist Insular Cases (1901-1925+)-led to the 1917 PR-Jones Act-grants statutory US Citizenship (can be amended or revoked or ENDs upon Independence).
+The US Supreme Court has wrongly established that the US Constitution doesn’t fully apply to Puerto Rico, except for some broad rights that have not been defined (Downs vs Bidwell-1901; Balzac vs PR-1922; Harris v Rosario-1980; Other biased Cases).
• PR lacks Parity in US Laws; Programs & Funding-Since 1898-has lost about $300 Billion in Federal funds (for Veterans, Social Security, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, Infrastructure, Education, SSI, etc.) that other US Citizens fully get!
• Jones (Merchant Marine) Act (1920)-is outdated; stifles competition, etc.; plus, unfairly imposes higher costs on Puerto Ricans who pay about 40% of total; badly hurts the Economy/Progress; as a majority of States, don’t pay this unfair hidden US shipping tax.
“Even if one US Citizen can’t vote; is one too many!”