President Theodore Roosevelt coming off the wharf at Ponce, Puerto Rico on November 21, 1906, as part of the first official diplomatic presidential tour outside of the continental US. Roosevelt used his visit to recommend that Puerto Ricans become US citizens.
About The Author
William-Jose Velez Gonzalez
William-José Vélez González is a native from Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, and a graduate from Florida International University in biomedical engineering, engineering management, and international relations. A designer with a strong interest in science, policy, and innovation, he previously served as the national executive vice president of the Puerto Rico Statehood Students Association. William-José lives in Washington, DC, where he works at the Children's National Research Institute and runs Opsin, a nonprofit design studio dedicated to making design more accessible. You can see him on Love is Blind as Lydia's brother. He is the founder and Editor in Chief of Pasquines.
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At a glance
- Status
- Unincorporated territory
- Citizenship
- US citizens
- Capital
- San Juan
- Population
- 3.2 million
- Land area
- 3,515 sq mi
- Language
- Spanish, English
- President
- Donald Trump (R)
- Governor
- Jenniffer González-Colón (NPP, R)
- Resident Commissioner
- Pablo José Hernández Rivera (PDP, D)
- Presidential vote
- No
- Voting representation in Congress
- No
- Official website
- www.pr.gov
- Codes
- ZIP006xx, 007xx, 009xxPhone787, 939
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US President Teddy Roosevelt was the first US President who, in 1906, visited the US Territory of Puerto Rico; wrote our US Congress to provide an Equal US Citizenship…!
Since 1898 (for over 125+ years), the Federal Government has kept the US Territory of Puerto Rico (PR)-(with more US Citizens-US Veterans than 21 States)–under undemocratic control (with NO Federal “consent of the governed”)-as the US Constitution is NOT fully applied to PR (part of “We the People”)! Thus, WE Patriots demand full Equal Civil Rights/ Fairness for ALL; revocation of unjust Laws; Federal Action (a Plebiscite) to END PR’s unfair Territorial Status!
“The Federal Government should be the Servant of ALL the People; NOT the Master of some!”
Fix/Focus: THE TIME IS NOW—to end biased or unjust Laws and the Federal undemocratic PR Territorial Status; let PR Vote in a fair Plebiscite with viable Non-Territorial Options, like:
*STATEHOOD-MEANS: Admission to our diverse “UNION of STATES”—united under our US Constitution, Laws, & Representative Democracy; EQUAL US Citizenship with full Rights, Benefits, and Responsibilities; with PR-STATE Identity, Constitution, Flag, Sovereignty… as other States & other US Citizens have…
*INDEPENDENCE- MEANS: Puerto Rico National Sovereignty; PR Constitution/Laws, PR Citizenship…; with loss of US Constitution & statutory US Citizenship, Rights, and Benefits…
*INDEPENDENCE with Free Association PACT-MEANS: Puerto Rico National Sovereignty; PR Constitution/ Laws, PR Citizenship…; with loss of US 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.
++HR-2757/S.3232-“The PR Status Act” needs to be amended on Status definitions that are not clear & other areas that don’t meet Constitutional muster or US Supreme Court decisions; OR do a clear new bill-“PR Fair Status Act”/“PR Democracy Status Act”.
“En la UNIÓN está la Fuerza!” (We are Stronger with a Union of States!)