Puerto Rico Report brings you all the news on Puerto Rico’s political status all year long. At this time of year, we like to look back on the year we’re finishing up — and 2024 has been a lively year.
10. What Does It Mean to Be a Territory of the United States?
Puerto Rico has been in the headlines quite a bit in 2024, but there are still plenty of people who don’t quite know what a territory is, or what it means for Puerto Rico to be a U.S. territory. In this article, we clarify the political status of Puerto Rico.
9. Puerto Rico’s Flag in Black and White
Puerto Rico’s beautiful flag is held with pride and love by Boricuas, but not all readers will know that the colors of the flag can change depending on political beliefs. The classic royal blue color, shared with the United States, is a sign of statehood support. Independence supporters choose pale sky blue. More recently, the black and white flag has been used as a sign of resistance to the current colonial status.
8. How Safe Is Drinking Water in Puerto Rico?
Puerto Rico’s water supply is subject to the same standards as drinking water across the United States, but there is actually more contamination in water on the Island than in the states. There are multiple reasons for this unfortunate and ongoing problem.
7. Puerto Rico’s Political Status: An Update
Puerto Rico’s political status hasn’t changed in a century, but the history is confusing and claims of various leaders have been contradictory. Learn the truth.
This article is part of a series examining the current and historical relationships of Puerto Rico and various states. The entry for New Jersey has been especially popular. New Jersey comes after New York and Florida in the number of Puerto Ricans in the population, and 5% of the total population identifies as Puerto Rican. Since the 1940s, Puerto Rican communities have been growing in this state.
5. Trump on Birthright Citizenship
Since 1917, people born in Puerto Rico have been U.S. citizens by birth. However, since this is statutory rather than constitutional citizenship, it is not guaranteed and permanent. In particular, there is a great deal of uncertainty over what would happen to U.S. citizenship for Puerto Ricans if Puerto Rico chose independence, with or without free association. How would Donald Trump’s presidency affect the question?
Remind yourself of the basics of Puerto Rico’s geography and clear up any confusion you might have.
3. Puerto Rican Population in the States
The number of Puerto Ricans living in the states is nearly double the number living on the Island. Where do stateside Puerto Ricans live, when did the Puerto Rican communities in the various states begin to grow, and what are the economic circumstances of the diaspora?
2. Puerto Rico Election Results 2024
The elections in Puerto Rico this year turned up plenty of surprises, from a record-breaking number of votes for independence to a split ticket between the governor’s office and the resident commissioner position. Read all about it.
1. El Morro: The Oldest Fort in the U.S.
This story surprised us by going viral and taking the top spot among stories in 2024. El Morro is one of the iconic sites in Puerto Rico, and has a fascinating history. It’s just one of the many firsts that makes Puerto Rico special.
Alongside these popular stories, we also shared all the action in Congress, election campaigns, and legal disputes. Count on us to continue bringing you all the relevant news in 2025.
