Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court decisively rejected the principle of equality under the law when it comes to Puerto Rico. While seemingly limited in scope, we must not minimize the far-reaching implications of the court´s 8-1 decision in United States v. Vaello Madero.
The case challenged Congress´ exclusion of Puerto Rico residents from the Supplemental Security Income program. This federal program provides crucial aid to individuals with the least access to financial security in our communities — older adults, those with diverse ability needs and those living in extreme poverty.
A 2011 estimate suggested that over 300,000 Puerto Rican residents would be eligible for SSI. This systematic lack of funding fundamentally limits a people’s struggle for self-determination and self-actualization.
