The people of Puerto Rico have been American citizens for many decades now. But they cannot vote in our presidential elections, and do not have a voting representative in either of the houses of the U.S. Congress. In other words, they do not enjoy the same rights as other American citizens.
There is a simple solution to this. Puerto Rico should be made the 51st state in our Union. It should have happened a long time ago.
It isn't the American public that prevents it. About 66% of the public (about 2 out of every 3) supports statehood for Puerto Rico. It is Congress standing in the way -- especially the Republicans who fear Puerto Rico will increase the number of Democrats in Congress (and considering how this Republican administration failed Puerto Rico with disaster relief after they were hit by two hurricanes, they may be right).
But that is just wrong. Politics should not prevent Puerto Ricans from enjoying the full rights of American citizens.
The charts above are from a recent Gallup Poll -- done between June 19th and 30th of a national sample of 1,018 adults, with a margin of error of 4 points.
