Puerto Rico

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. The storm’s 155-mile-per-hour winds caused widespread destruction and its pounding rains caused severe flooding, knocking out the island’s power and communications systems. Restoring electricity everywhere may take months. Much of the water is undrinkable, and most of the island’s crops have been destroyed—a loss valued at $780 million.

Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico. The storm’s 155-mile-per-hour winds caused a lot of destruction and its pounding rains caused heavy flooding. The hurricane knocked out the island’s power and communications systems. Restoring electricity everywhere may take months. Much of the water is undrinkable. And most of the island’s crops have been destroyed, resulting in a loss valued at $780 million.

Even before the storm, Puerto Rico had major problems. Its economy was so shaky that it declared bankruptcy last spring and about half a million people (about 15 percent of the current population) have moved away in the past decade. Now, some officials fear that the widespread damage will force many more Puerto Ricans to leave for the U.S. mainland, further damaging the island’s economy.

The more than 3.4 million people who live in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens, but according to a September poll, almost half of Americans don’t realize that.

Here are answers to some questions you might have about Puerto Rico’s place in the United States.

Even before the storm, Puerto Rico had major problems. Its economy was so shaky that it declared bankruptcy last spring. About half a million people have moved away in the past decade. That's about 15 percent of the current population. Now, some officials fear that the widespread damage will force many more Puerto Ricans to leave for the U.S. mainland. Their departure will further damage the island’s economy.

The more than 3.4 million people who live in Puerto Rico are U.S. citizens. But a September poll showed that almost half of Americans don’t realize that.

Here are answers to some questions you might have about Puerto Rico’s place in the United States.

Yes. Under Section 302 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, people born in Puerto Rico have the same birthright American citizenship as people born in the 50 states.

Governor Ricardo A. Rosselló of Puerto Rico emphasized this as he pleaded for more federal aid in late September.

“Puerto Rico, which is part of the United States, can turn into a humanitarian crisis,” he said. “To avoid that, recognize that we Puerto Ricans are American citizens. When we speak of a catastrophe, everyone must be
treated equally.”

Yes. Section 302 of the Immigration and Nationality Act spells it out. It states that people born in Puerto Rico have the same birthright American citizenship as people born in the 50 states.

Governor Ricardo A. Rosselló of Puerto Rico emphasized this as he pleaded for more federal aid in late September.

“Puerto Rico, which is part of the United States, can turn into a humanitarian crisis,” he said. “To avoid that, recognize that we Puerto Ricans are American citizens. When we speak of a catastrophe, everyone must be treated equally.”

In a nutshell, the U.S. won Puerto Rico in a war. The island became a U.S. territory as part of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War in 1898. Puerto Rico had been a Spanish colony for more than 400 years, and when Spain lost the war, it was forced to cede Puerto Rico to the U.S. 

In a nutshell, the U.S. won Puerto Rico in a war. The island became a U.S. territory as part of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War in 1898. Puerto Rico had been a Spanish colony for more than 400 years. When Spain lost the war, it was forced to hand over Puerto Rico to the U.S.    

Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth.* What this means in practical terms is complicated. Most people in Puerto Rico don’t pay federal income taxes, but they do pay Social Security, Medicare, import, export, and other taxes to the federal government. In fact, they contribute more than $3 billion a year to the U.S. Treasury.

Puerto Rico has a delegate in the House of Representatives who serves on and votes in committees but cannot vote on the House floor; that position is currently held by Jenniffer González-Colón, a Republican. Puerto Rico has no representation in the U.S. Senate.

Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth. It’s a complicated arrangement. Most people in Puerto Rico don’t pay federal income taxes. But they do pay Social Security, Medicare, import, export, and other taxes to the federal government. In fact, they contribute more than $3 billion a year to the U.S. Treasury.

Puerto Rico has a delegate in the House of Representatives who serves on and votes in committees. This delegate cannot vote on the House floor. Jenniffer González-Colón, a Republican, currently holds that position. Puerto Rico has no representation in the U.S. Senate. 

You might think so, given that they’re citizens, but on the biggest stage, the answer is no: They can’t vote in presidential elections and Puerto Rico has no representation in the Electoral College.

Puerto Ricans do, however, have a say in presidential nominations: Last year, Marco Rubio won the Republican primary there, and Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary.

But Puerto Ricans who establish residency in one of the 50 U.S. states have full voting rights. About 5.4 million Puerto Ricans live in the states, including about 1 million each in New York and Florida, and almost 500,000 in
New Jersey.

You might think so, given that they’re citizens. But on the biggest stage, the answer is no. They can’t vote in presidential elections. Puerto Rico also has no representation in the Electoral College.

Puerto Ricans do, however, have a say in presidential nominations. Last year, Marco Rubio won the Republican primary there, and Hillary Clinton won the Democratic primary.

But Puerto Ricans who establish residency in one of the 50 U.S. states have full voting rights. About 5.4 million Puerto Ricans live in the states. There are about 1 million each in New York and Florida, and almost 500,000 in New Jersey.    

There’s a longstanding statehood movement in Puerto Rico, and the island has held five referendums on the subject. In the most recent one, held in June amid very low turnout, 97 percent of the votes cast were in favor of statehood—the first time statehood won. But the referendum was nonbinding, so it remains up to Congress to decide whether to admit Puerto Rico as a state.

After the vote, Governor Rosselló, a Democrat, chose two senators and five representatives—the number of lawmakers Puerto Rico would have, based on its population—to go to Washington and demand to be seated in order to make a statement. But Congress hasn’t acted on the referendum and is not likely to do so in the foreseeable future. Both houses of Congress are controlled by Republicans, who fear that residents of Puerto Rico would send Democrats to Washington.

“Politically, that just won’t happen,” says Roger Pilon, director of the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., about the likelihood of Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state, “because it’ll change the political balance in the country.”

There’s a longstanding statehood movement in Puerto Rico. The island has held five referendums on the subject. The most recent one was held in June, but the voter turnout was very low. Ninety-seven percent of the votes cast were in favor of statehood. This marked the first time statehood won. But the referendum was nonbinding. This means that it remains up to Congress to decide whether to admit Puerto Rico as a state.

After the vote, Governor Rosselló, a Democrat, chose two senators and five representatives. That’s the number of lawmakers Puerto Rico would have, based on its population, if it were a state. Rosselló urged them to go to Washington and demand to be seated to make a statement. But Congress hasn’t acted on the referendum and is not likely to do so soon. Republicans control both houses of Congress. They fear that residents of Puerto Rico would send Democrats to Washington.

“Politically, that just won’t happen,” says Roger Pilon, director of the Cato Institute in Washington, D.C., about the likelihood of Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state, “because it’ll change the political balance in the country.”    

With reporting by Maggie Astor of The New York Times.

With reporting by Maggie Astor of The New York Times.