Inside Puerto Rico’s complicated debate over statehood

John Leguizamo sits with architect Javier De Jesús Martínez, who is working to restore areas of Puerto Rico devastated by recent natural disasters. “I think part of the problem [is] Puerto Rico has three paths,” Leguizamo says. “One is staying in a commonwealth, going to statehood, or going toward independence. So what’s going to make the U.S. care about what’s going on here?”


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Inside Puerto Rico’s complicated debate over statehood

#PuertoRico #Statehood #JohnLeguizamo

[thefpvlife]

How in the world can Puerto Rico not be a state compared to smaller younger states.

[yvetterobles]

This is exactly what I'm talkin I feel almost like we're forgotten again. Thank you for enlightening us with updates we need to know more

[downhillskier]

If Puerto Rico becomes a state then FEMA and state voting rights are available. Independence the people choose how to rebuild and are responsible for the cost of the rebuilding after natural disasters.

[equitypark]

Before Puerto Rico can be independent WE as Boriquas around the world must start investing into our island & help build infrastructure. All PR’s issues can be dealt with at the Congress level

[Slaghunter]

If Puerto Rico gets statehood you will all lose your culture people from Mainland US will make sure of it so if you love your island and want to preserve your culture stay a commonwealth or get independence.

[joseldiaz]

At the end of the day, this issue should be about what system is best for the majority of people in the island. A sovereign 🇵🇷 may be good for some idealist and the rich but not for the middle classes and the poor. After a century of living under the 🇺🇸 system and people allowed to be free and travel to the states, no one will endure starting from scratch in a different system with the ruthless politicians taking over, and most would emigrate to 🇺🇸. No system is perfect but becoming another state will give 🇵🇷 the best chance to succeed and have economic stability and security 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[Thomas-Bradley]

It doesn't make sense for Puerto Rico to become an independent country when there are more Puerto Ricans in mainland US than in the island itself. Not to mention, so many of its Latin neighbours currently queuing outside of the US-Mexico border to work in the US which makes it dumb for Puerto Ricans who are now able to just fly to the US to work if they so desire to go for the Independence route.

[JOSWAY]

The way John makes his voice heard for all Latinos, and now also for Puerto Rico.
If you ever see this comment John, you are a saint and we love you 🇵🇷❤️

[danielrebecca]

I’ve been thinking a lot about this topic. If Puerto Rico becomes a state it will have the benefits of the states but the problem is with all the regulations that the USA has it may cause the cost of living to rise a lot. Now of Puerto Rico becomes it’s own nation then the question is what will happen to the USA passport that many Puerto Ricans possess will the future generations of Puerto Ricans born on the island become Americans? Or will it be dependent on their parents to tell the USA embassy that they are children of Americans rather then getting automatic citizenship. Since now Puerto Ricans are still usa citizens each Puerto Rican that is born. Also how strong will the passport be for Puerto Rico. How much visa free travel will a Puerto Rican have. The good things that may happen are due to less regulations perhaps cost of living will go down but this may mean people live in slums and inadequate housing that is just built up anywhere without modern things. Or perhaps the Puerto Rican government can figure out a way for all people to get decent housing. To be honest I really don’t know.

[gamingelke]

Statehood would be the safest bet financially

[AntonioNin-vdrt]

The problem with the people that want independence in the island is that the times that statehood wins they never Wana accept it

[goodperson]

I’m from Texas, and I would LOVE to have Puerto Rico come in as a state once and for all! I want them to have he same security that we have on the mainland and in Hawaii and Alaska. Having their own distinct culture is just icing on the cake. The US is a blend of many things and it would be amazing to have a Spanish infused state in our union. If we can get our Congress right (meaning getting more Democrats in office), they can be voted in! Let’s do this 🙌🏽

[abelgerli]

Puerto Rico has way more people than Wyoming or North Dakota and is yet not a US state ? Thats shows the staate of the US democracy.
Best wishes from Europe.

[ricardoibarra]

Boriken needs to be independent if you disagree or try to claim state hood is the better choice your spitting in the face of your ancestors the ones who suffered real tragedy’s and the reason why we are treated like insects scrambling for scraps. When the reason why their pockets are so fat is because our people did all the work. Domino sugar made us wage slaves and had taken over the sugar industry by using our people. It is what it is id rather be home in pr anyways my family only left because we was poor and guess what we still poor 🤣 just with a twist

[xavierrivera]

It's time for PR to become a state and have a voice in Congress.. let's stop the agricultural bs, they're not going to be able to complete with other Latin American countries that can grow huge quantities of what ever fruit that comes to anyone's mind, and for a fraction of a Puerto Rican's salary. It's hard enough to get Puerto Ricans to work for $20 at a nice air-conditioned mall, what makes you think they'll go on the hot agricultural lands of PR and for pennies an hour. 🙄

Do you think if Haiti, DR or any Latin American country had the chance of becoming a state, that they would think about it twice.. of course not, bc they know how difficult it is be independent. Only dumb PRs would think of blowing such an opportunity

[prlopez]

For the Puerto Ricans who want independence look at Haiti today after they got their independence from France do you want to follow Haiti

[justoreguero]

Independent and very far away from the USA. Puerto Rican should look up how is Hawaii now after becoming a USA State. Now Hawaiians wants Hawaii to belong to the Hawaiians.

[abnerrjr]

Independence for Puerto Rico. We will have our own currency, citizenship, and country. We will lose our Spanish culture if we let it become a statehood. Puerto Rico en la casa. 🇵🇷INDEPENDENCE

[StevenHughes-hrhp]

If the politics on the island are divided up between a pro statehood party, a status quo party and an independence party and on a good day maybe 50% vote statehood how exactly can you make it a state?

[MarieA]

I love my PR I dont want state hood and I dont want Independence. We are going to loose our culture if we became state hood. For those that dont live in the Island will never understand.