SYRACUSE, N. Y. (NCC News)- Like most Puerto Ricans that come to the U.S. for better opportunities, Laizamar Méndez Cordero is often mistaken for an immigrant. “I’m not foreign. I’m Puerto Rican. I’m not foreign…,” said Méndez.
She has been asked many questions about her country. “Do you have to show a passport to travel here? That was one of the main questions. ‘…No, we are U.S.A. territory’,” said Méndez.
Although Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, they cannot vote for president. “They ask me ‘why? …I don’t know. We just don’t vote for president’,” said Méndez.
Syracuse University International Relations professor Francine D’Amico said the relationship between U.S. and Puerto Rico is an undemocratic arrangement. “Puerto Rico has some autonomy in self-governance but not autonomy in foreign affairs. The foreign affairs are completely controlled by United States,” said D’Amico.
That means that Puerto Rico can manage their own government but has no say with the interest of their home country, the United States. D’Amico said the relationship between U.S. and the island is paternalistic.
The U.S. provides citizenship, federal benefits and founding, military protection and tax-free living. But takes away voting for president. In other words, Puerto Rico is a commonwealth.
D’Amico said there is only one way for Puerto Ricans in the island to be able to vote for U.S. president. “To do that it will have to be a state,” said the professor.
Now that Méndez is a resident in the U.S., she will be able to vote for a president once she register to vote. She thinks that the lack of knowledge in U.S. is unfair. “We have to learn everything about the president. We have to learn everything about how the legislative part works, how you vote for president, how everything goes. Why they don’t do the same for U.S. territories?” said Méndez.
