Primer: Puerto Rico Statehood
Puerto Rico has been an “unincorporated territory” of the United States since 1898, after the Spanish-American War. Finally relenting to local independence movements, the island became the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1952 after Congress enacted the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act. The legislation allowed for the creation of a local constitution, provided that it formed a republican government with a Bill of Rights. The territory is governed for the most part by a locally elected governor along with executive, legislative, and judicial branches, however the US government makes major decisions regarding defense, international relations, trade, and domestic program access that greatly affect Puerto Ricans.
This political relationship is strenuous in the sense that Puerto Rico is neither a sovereign nation nor a US state, but also not considered a colony, leaving the island in a confusing and often hypocritical position. For example, Puerto Ricans living on the island cannot vote for the president but may participate in primary elections, are subject to US federal laws while lacking any voting power in Congress, and do not pay federal income taxes despite being US citizens. This dynamic largely disadvantages the territory, as they are restricted in participating in US politics but cannot fully take initiative on their own.
Puerto Ricans and mainland Americans hold diverse opinions on the future of Puerto Rico. Some advocate strongly for granting statehood, while others prefer seeking independence. There is also the option of an “enhanced commonwealth,” granting more autonomy to the territory while remaining in their current liminal space.
While promoters of statehood may share the same end goal, there are various reasons. Puerto Rican supporters of statehood simply wish to share the privileges of other US states, such as equitable federal funding allocations and eligibility for social welfare programs. Currently, Puerto Ricans are unable to take advantage of the Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (D-SNAP), which would be incredibly helpful considering their particular vulnerability to natural disasters. Statehood would also lead to representation in government and greater opportunity for growth and development as a part of the US economic system. On the other hand, some Americans desire Puerto Ricans statehood for purely selfish reasons, arguing that this 51st state would secure a critical military presence in the Caribbean.
However, those opposing statehood have concerns about the negative effects for both the US and Puerto Rico. Some are worried about the cultural inclusion of the island, especially the prospect of forcing English onto the predominantly Spanish-speaking population. Others argue that granting statehood to Puerto Rico will be a financial burden on the US – one which their population won’t be able to mitigate because the majority will be exempt from paying federal income taxes. Furthermore, making the territory the 51st will add over two million eligible voters, potentially altering the political landscape of the US.
In 2020, a referendum regarding political status changes in Puerto Rico resulted in US statehood winning 53% of the vote, however only 55% of Puerto Ricans actually voted, making the already vague results even more difficult to interpret. It is obviously important to take Puerto Ricans’ opinions into account, however it has been difficult to do so with such low voter turnout.
Come join our debate this Monday at 7pm in Scott Hall!
"Puerto Rico's Flag Has One Star, The US 50; the Intersection is Null" by cogdogblog is licensed under CC BY 2.0.