Puerto Rico Part Of The USA?

Question

So I was just wondering, I noticed that Puerto Rico was in Miss USA, and Puerto Rico now has a say in our US primaries.

Is Puerto Rico really part of the USA?

Do you need a passport to go to Puerto Rico?

Answer 1

Hi. For International events, its considered an independent country.  But all U.S. Federal laws are the law of the land here, and we have American citizenship and stuff.  It's a little of everything.  We belong to the U.S., but they let us believe we are our own independent country so we feel better and dont form revolutions and stuff like in Cuba or Algeria.

Answer 2

Yes it is part of the USA, its just not an official state (not yet lol), and no, you don't need a passport.  PRicans are US citizens just like you.

Answer 3

PR is a protectorate of the United States.  Very similar to Guam and the US Virgin Islands.  They do not participate in the actual presidential election.  No passport needed to visit PR.  I lived there for 8 years and it is funny how for some things they are like a state and for others they are like an independent country.  They have there own Olympic teams, you usually have to call the international customer service for the airlines, and no one there would say they are American before Puerto Rican.  At the same time, they join the US armed forces, have representation in Washington, and the US mail is exactly the same.  Every couple of years they hold referendums to let the people decide if they want statehood, independence, or the status quo.  Invariably a little less than half want to be a state, a little less than half want status quo, and a small minority want independence.  Anway, great place to visit with wonderful people and perfect weather.

Answer 4

No passport needed if You're a US Citizen...

Puerto Rico is a Commonwealth of the United states  but we have Our own Miss.Universe and Our own Olimpic Team..

Answer 5

Puerto Rico is a colony of the USA , actually is the last colony of the free world, the word hipocrysi comes to my mind when i think of USA talking about freedom and keep a country as a colony at misfortune. A lot of people (fanatics) said it is a commonwhealt, a definition that do not appear in any law book.

>>>>>>>> Puerto Rico is a Colony  

By Jose R. Bas García

October 9, 2001 (Updated January 5, 2007)

Based on the conferences dictated by Dr. Antonio J. González *

Published in the Magazine of Social Sciences of the UPR

Vol. X, March of 1966

Translated to English by Javier Hernández



The Puerto Rican Independence Party bases its struggle in favor of the independence of Puerto Rico on the conviction that we continue to be a colony of the United States, thus being denied the right to our freedom and sovereignty. From the moment the American invasion forces, directed by General Nelson A. Miles, disembarked in Puerto Rico in 1898, the foundations of our relationship with the United States were laid. The famous speech that the General gave when he arrived finishes with statements that hold true even till this day:

"...and to bestow upon you the immunities and blessings of the liberal institutions of our government.. to give to all within the naval control of its military and forces the advantages and blessings of the enlightened civilization."[ 1 ]

Everything would be under the control of the military and naval forces of the United States. Since then, our relations with the American metropolis have had some cosmetic changes that only have to do with the administration of the colony and the organization of the internal government, but never has it granted Puerto Ricans the total control of their lives and destiny. Sovereign powers have never been transferred to us in order to be able to decide in all those areas that affect the collective life of our nation.

The fact that Puerto Rico must accept the dispositions of laws imposed by another country, without its consent, clearly demonstrates the colonial character of our relationship with the United States. In Puerto Rico, this is called "Estado Libre Asociado"(Free Associated State or Commonwealth). In international law, it is called "colony".[ 5 ] In a world in which the world's most powerful (the United States) owns the world's oldest colony (Puerto Rico), stand up for freedom, liberty, and democracy. Say NO to Colonialism, Exploitation, and Occupation! Support Puerto Rican Independence and Sovereignty!

Answer 6

first of all they are OUR primaries, because whoever gets elected is OUR president and we should have a say so.

yes is really a part of the US, it's just not a state. washington d.c., OUR capital, is also part of the U.S. and it's also not a state.  

  and no you dont need a passport to come here or to go to any of the states from here.

Answer 7

Since the end os the Spanish-American war when Spain awarded Cuba, the Philippinnes and Puerto Rico over to the U.S. as war booty, back in 1898. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens since 1917. Just as U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and the Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico has voted on primaries for the past couple of Presidential elections, but they can`t vote in Presidential elections, nor have any voting Senators and Congressmen. This is why many see it as the last colony in the world.Whatever is done by Puerto Rican govt., the U.S. Congress always has the last say. You do not need a passport to travel to Puerto Rico as long as you`re an American citizen.

Answer 8

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

Answer 9

You forgort to mention PR participate in Olimpic Games.

Part of the USA?

* Yes, we are.

A state?

* No, we are not an state like NY, Texas or Florida.

A territory of the USA?

* Yes, we are a territory similar to the US Virgin Islands, another non-state part of the USA.

An organized or non organized territory of the USA?

* Organized, this means the USA Congress has approved an Organict Act to setup a goverment in the territory.  In the case of PR the organic act is the Constitution of the Commonwealth (Estado Libre Asociado) of PR written by an Assembly of Delegates from PR in 1952.

An incorporated territory or an non incorporated territory of the USA?

* A non incorporated territory, which means that although we are US citizens not all the provisions of the US Constitution, and laws applies to PR.  Just those sections, rights, benefits, etc. that the US Congress approves to be valid in PR.  for example:

* we participate in all wars that the USA gets involved, our soldiers have fought in all conflicts since WWI to current Irak war.

* We do not pay federel income tax,

* We pay Social Security taxes,

* We do not participate in November Presidential elections (but we have Primaries to select US Presidential candidates like Obama vs Hillary in June 1 2008).

* we do not have Senators at the US Senate.

* we do not have Representatives to the House (Congress), just a Resident Commissioner who has limited voting rights.

Edit: Bottom line: We are an non incorpored and organized territory of the USA, for all practical means a colony (although some people here and in the USA object the use of that term).  What would the "fathers" of the nation who fought to free the 13 colonies from England feel about the idea of USa having colonies?

Passport?

We are US citizens, our passports are USA passports.  To travel from the states to PR the flight is a domestic flight, like one between NY and FL.  You do not need a passport to come here unless the Homeland Security agency changes the rules for domestic flights.

Answer 10

Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth is association with the United States.

Puerto Rico is an “unincorporated territory” of the United States which according to the United States Supreme Court is “a territory appurtenant and belonging to the United States, but not a part of the United States.” Puerto Rico is subject to the Congress’ plenary powers under the “territorial clause” of Article IV, sec. 3, of the U.S. Constitution’s. United States federal law is applicable to Puerto Rico, even though Puerto Rico is not a state of the American Union and has no voting representative in the United States Congress.

Due to the establishment of the Federal Relations Act of 1950 all federal laws that are “not locally inapplicable” are automatically the law of the land in Puerto Rico.

And no, you don't need a passport to come visit us!

Hope I helped :)

Answer 11

Puerto Rico is an American Territory, It is know as the CommonWealth Of Puerto Rico (Free State) But no it is not a state, we are American Citizens just like the American Virgin Islands, Guam, and a few others that i can't recall right now.. No you don't need a Pass Port, if you are an American