The legislation, promoted by Puerto Rican diaspora organizations in the United States, calls for a status referendum that would exclude the possibility of full annexation of this Caribbean nation, under Washington’s colonial rule since 1898—a possibility abhorred by President Donald Trump.

“Inspired by the political and ethical thought of Eugenio Maria de Hostos, we reaffirm that independence is not an isolated act or a concession, but a democratic, inclusive, and participatory process that must recognize the will of all Puerto Ricans, both those residing in Puerto Rico and those who are part of our broad and diverse diaspora,” stated the MINH.

The organization, which is actively participating in this initiative represented by Jaime Inclán, a member of its National Directorate, stated that “the Hostosian principle of human dignity and the sovereignty of the people demands that any proposal regarding the political future of Puerto Rico recognize the Puerto Rican nation in its entirety.”

“The diaspora is an integral part of our country, its history, and its future,” the MINH expressed in written statements sent to Prensa Latina in San Juan, signed by its co-presidents Carlos Vega Perez and Angel Rodriguez Leon.

The Puerto Rican population is estimated at nine million, of which only 3.2 million currently reside on the Caribbean island, after Hurricane Maria in 2019 caused the migration of some 600,000 people, in addition to the policy promoted by Washington in the 1940s to encourage emigration to the United States.

The Movement maintains that any initiative by the U.S. Congress related to the political status of Puerto Rico must explicitly recognize the right to self-determination and independence as a legitimate and viable option.

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