Puerto Rico
Former US Ambassador on What ‘Free Association’ Would Mean for Puerto Rico
Latino Rebels reached out to Peter R. Rosenblatt, who from 1977 to 1981 served as President Carter’s ambassador to the negotiations on the future political status of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, which established the Compact of Free Association between the U.S. government and the former UN-controlled, U.S.-administered territories of Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia.
Court of Appeals Orders Delivery of Act 22 Beneficiaries’ Reports
Four judges have ordered the handing over to the Center for Investigative Journalism (CPI, in Spanish) of the annual reports submitted by the beneficiaries of the Act to Promote the Relocation of Investors to Puerto Rico, or Act 22, which is now part of the Incentives Code.
Opioid Crisis Among Puerto Ricans in the Bronx Goes Largely Unnoticed
The New York City Department of Health carried out a 2020 survey analyzing overdose deaths among Latinos, and Puerto Ricans represented the highest number of opioid deaths by a landslide. Out of 635 reported fatal overdoses, 232 were Puerto Ricans.
Source: Fearing Loss, Puerto Rico Statehood Movement Looks to Blur Line Between Status Options
Fearing that one of the two other status options may win, specifically the “Free Association” option, members of the Puerto Rican statehood movement plan to pressure House Natural Resources Committee chair Rep. Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ) to revise the language of a draft bill that looks to resolve Puerto Rico’s 100-plus status issue once and for all, according to a draft letter provided to Latino Rebels by an anonymous source directly familiar with the proceedings.
UN Committee Recognizes Puerto Rico’s Right to Self-Determination, Independence
On Monday afternoon, the United Nations (UN) Special Committee on Decolonization —by consensus and for the 40th time— adopted Draft Resolution L7, which formally recognizes Puerto Rico’s right to self-determination and independence.
Insularismo, or the Art of Dancing in the Dark Without Music (OPINION)
In the end, the congressional visit was Boricua political theater at its best, with a showy guest list.
EXCLUSIVE: Grijalva Previews Next Steps for Puerto Rico Status Act
On Tuesday afternoon, Latino Rebels caught up with the House Committee on Natural Resources Chair in the Speaker’s Lobby of the House of Representatives for an update on the bill that has brought the two policy factions supporting statehood and self-determination bills together for the first time.
Illinois Senators Are Latest Co-Sponsors of Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act
While movement this week from the House Committee on Natural Resources is likely focusing on a consensus Puerto Rico Status Act for a hearing before the August recess that could get the draft bill past committee and onto the House floor, Illinois’ two Senators have added their name to a growing list of upper chamber co-sponsors of a current self-determination bill that contains no consensus provisions with the island-colony’s statehood proponents.
Juan González’s Harvest of Empire
Latino Rebels Radio: June 9, 2022
Will Congress Translate Proposed Puerto Rico Status Legislation Into Spanish?
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A discussion is brewing in the House of Representatives over whether or not the new Puerto Rico Status Discussion Draft will be translated into Spanish.
EXCLUSIVE: Ocasio-Cortez on the Future of Puerto Rico Status Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Days after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) traveled to Puerto Rico with three fellow House members to hold a public forum to discuss the new Puerto Rico Status Act Discussion Draft, Latino Rebels caught up with the New York Democrat on Wednesday evening for an update on the bill.
No Clear Consensus During Public Forum for Puerto Rico Status Act Discussion Draft
As anticipated, there was no overarching agreement over the future of the political status of Puerto Rico—although the predominantly shared sentiment from speakers was that the discussion draft was a good start to relinquishing themselves of colonialism.
Three Testimonies to Congressional Committee Show Clearly Different Views on Puerto Rico Status Act Discussion Draft
Over the weekend, Latino Rebels received testimonies from three speakers, each representing a different take on the status question and the discussion draft bill. We are sharing each testimony here to show the broad political spectrum this discussion draft debate represents.
American Samoans Ask Supreme Court to Overturn ‘Racist’ Insular Cases
A petition filed in April by American Samoans asks the Supreme Court to overturn a set of century-old rulings used to deny equal rights and federal benefits to the residents of American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, and other U.S. territories.
Hundreds March in Puerto Rico in Defense of Abortion Rights
A green wave of pro-choice demonstrators washed over Old San Juan on Saturday, May 28 —the International Day of Action for Women’s Health— to demand abortion rights be protected in the face of legislative attacks.
Puerto Rico’s Consensus Status Bill
Latino Rebels Radio: May 26, 2022
CPI Scores Federal Court Win Against Fiscal Control Board for Access to Information
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit in Boston rejected the Fiscal Control Board for Puerto Rico’s claim that, due to “sovereign immunity,” it did not have to submit to the right of access to information and deliver documents on their processes requested by the Centro de Periodismo Investigativo.
Senate Remains Divided on Puerto Rico Status Question
Even if the Puerto Rico Status Act passes the House —which is far from certain— it would still need to pass the Senate, where 60 votes are required to break a filibuster. If it doesn’t pass Congress, then there will be no binding plebiscite, currently scheduled for November 5, 2023.
Puerto Rico Super PAC Pleads Guilty to Dark Money Scheme, Possible Link to Gov. Pierluisi
On May 5, the super PAC Salvemos a Puerto Rico and its president pled guilty to one count of falsifying documents to hide donor identities from the Federal Election Commission, leading to an investigation into whether they coordinated with Gov. Pedro Pierluisi’s 2020 campaign.
Key Features of Puerto Rico Status Act
The Puerto Rico Status Act brings together two competing bills in the House: the Puerto Rico Self-Determination Act and the Puerto Rico Statehood Admission Act. Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s in it.
‘Historic’ Puerto Rico Status Compromise Bill Faces Uncertain Future in Congress
Following a press conference on Thursday, members of the House negotiating team behind a potential consensus bill on Puerto Rico’s status released what is likely a messaging bill meant to act as a framework for further negotiations and their outcome.