You can travel between Florida (or any U.S. state) and Puerto Rico without a passport. What does the fact that there is no passport required tell us about the relationship between the U.S. and Puerto Rico?
No passport required
There are many borders that allow crossing — for some people from some places — without a passport. For example, citizens of one country in the European Union can visit any other EU country without a passport. The European Union was formed in 1993 to recognize the close relationships among the member nations. They share a currency and some shared policies, as well as strong historic and cultural connections.
Botswana and Namibia have a bilateral agreement not to require passports for their citizens traveling between the two nations. Only national cards are required. Botswana gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1966, while Namibia left South Africa’s administration in 1990. Tswana is spoken widely across both countries, representing a deep indigenous connection that predates modern borders. Most of the continent of Africa was divided into nations by Europeans, without consideration of history or heritage. Botswana and Namibia’s shared heritage is enough for them to share a border with relaxed regulations.
Citizens of the UK and Ireland can travel in their Common Travel area without passports. Ireland became an independent republic in 1949, after decades of gradual separation from the United Kingdome.
The fact that no passport is needed in these cases shows the commonality among the areas and the people that live in each nation.
Puerto Rico and the United States
Similarly, the lack of passport between any of the 50 states and Puerto Rico represents a strong connection. The union between Puerto Rico and the United States has been gradually strengthened since 1898, when the U.S. acquired Puerto Rico after the Spanish American War. That moment in history was not peaceful, but in 1917 U.S. citizenship was granted and the migration to and from Puerto Rico has been so seamless that now twice as many Puerto Ricans live in states as in Puerto Rico.
A Puerto Rican headlined the last Super Bowl. Puerto Rican singers and sports heroes are revered by Americans all across the states. Puerto Ricans serve in Congress and on the Supreme Court. Scientists, artists, writers, and entrepreneurs from Puerto Rico are heroes in the states. This is a connection, despite the fact that full integration into the U.S. democracy is not complete. At least for now.
In spite of chatter about Canada, Greenland, or Venezuela as the 51st state, Puerto Rico – along with Washington, D.C. – is a serious candidate for statehood outside the continental United States. It passed a constitution in the early 1950’s and has an established local legislature and related local government.
