Why Puerto Rico Is Adding 'USA' to Its Driver's Licenses

[Demovictory9]

Why Puerto Rico Is Adding ‘USA’ to Its Driver’s Licenses
Puerto Ricans have long been wrongly told that their driver’s licenses are not proof that they are American but some question whether the change will resolve much.


Humberto Marchand turned on his phone camera and began recording inside the airport in May because he could not believe what he was hearing.

The subsequent video was posted on social media and showed an employee of Hertz, the rental car chain, refusing to give Mr. Marchand his prepaid reserved car because he had presented a driver’s license issued from Puerto Rico, where he is from. The employee did not realize that this meant he was American and ignored Mr. Marchand’s pleas as he repeated, “It is a valid ID.”

Eileen Vélez Vega, Puerto Rico’s secretary of transportation and public works, felt increasingly frustrated as she watched that video in the spring, which reignited concerns over how Puerto Ricans are treated in the United States and the way their colonial past still vexes the island.

“I was shocked about how much lack of education, lack of knowledge was out there,” Ms. Vélez Vega said in an interview, noting that people born in Puerto Rico, a commonwealth of the United States, have the same birthright American citizenship as people born in the 50 states. “I couldn’t believe what was happening.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/08/us/puerto-rico-drivers-license-usa.html

[calimary]

1. They should be a state. And Washington DC should be another one.

That sure would take some pressure off the Democrat/Republican divide. Two more Senators in the "D" column which would be decisive and give our side some breathing room. It sucks having to dance on a knife edge all the time.

[RainCaster]

3. That would give us 4 Senators

A nice round number.

[calimary]

5. Oh for Pete's sake, where was my brain?

I like the sound of four even more!

[tritsofme]

9. DC would certainly give us two, but I imagine PR would be much more swingy.

I have spent a lot of time in PR during my life, my fear is that statehood is perpetual, and permanent status is still very controversial. Our Union is forever, if a bare majority supported statehood today, and then a generation later the consensus is for self determination or something else, I’m not sure the solution.

Unless there is a clear and overwhelming consensus for statehood, I think we should be cautious.

[LeftInTX]

8. Puerto Ricans are not a guaranteed Democratic vote

[AZLD4Candidate]

11. Yeah they are. As are the Somoans, the Marianans, the Virgin Islanders, and the Guamese

Those all become states with DC and the Democrats have 12 permanent senators.

[tritsofme]

13. I can't speak to the politics of the other territories aside from DC, but it's simply not true

that Puerto Rico would be automatic Democratic pickups. They would be competitive seats.

[AZLD4Candidate]

16. Considering I lived there once and still talk to many people there in many different places there

I respectfully disagree.

[Elessar Zappa]

19. From what I know of Puerto Rico,

there is the possibility of Republicans being elected but Democrats would be favored.

[Polybius]

21. Which is precisely why they won't become states

At least anytime soon.

[Cha]

14. They like paper towels thrown at them

Like after Hurricane Maria? By the Traitor.

[LeftInTX]

23. It's more complicated than that.

They have conservative factions.

He locked kids in cages in Texas and Latinos ended up supporting him.

[roamer65]

2. Statehood for PR.

Also DC.

[Hekate]

4. KnR

[Iggo]

6. Because Americans by and large are not all that bright (too put it way too nicely.)

[TreasonousBastard]

7. In 2020 they held a vote and 53 pc of the PR people were for...

statehood, but only about half voted, so we still don't know what they really want.

Statehood is easy, just come up with a decent state Constitution and Congress votes you in or out. Problem is, too many people are happy with things as they are. Regulatíons seem a bit lighter with them not being a state, but that has a lot to do with Congress being an assortment of assholes.

And never forget the power of racism. We fought a war over it, but it never really goes away.

[geardaddy]

12. Side note: I wonder what that idiot Hertz employee do if

Some one gave them a Manitoba or Ontario driver's license as ID?
You don't have to hold a driver's license of the country you're renting a car in.
I've used my Minnesota license to rent a car in Canada and the UK.

[Demovictory9]

17. Note..she called the cops, cop doubled down, told the Puerto Rican man to get out

Nothing he said could convince them he was an American. Herz and the police dept had to address the video..admit wrong doing

[geardaddy]

18. Thanks. I couldn't read the entire article

What absolutely disgusting behavior by the Hertz agent and the cops. She needs to be fired and brought up on charges, though, I'm sure it wouldn't go anywhere.

[Raine]

15. I knew someone from New Mexico who sometimes had a hard time convincing others

that New Mexico is NOT part of the country of Mexico but is in the United States!

[marybourg]

20. I can confirm that the story is true.

[ms liberty]

22. Because stupid Americans. I remember this story in the OP

I'm glad PR is doing this.

[FSogol]

24. Thanks to Red State Education!