LULAC Supports U.S. Solicitor General's Amicus Brief in Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle

December 31, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. – WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, LULAC National President Roger C. Rocha, Jr. issued the following statement in response to the amicus brief filed by the U.S. Solicitor General in the case of Puerto Rico v. Sanchez Valle:

"While some maintain that the territory of Puerto Rico enjoys the same rights and benefits as a sovereign state, the recent Puerto Rico Supreme Court decision has again established that this is simply not the case. Furthermore, the U.S. Solicitor General's amicus brief in support of the Puerto Rico Supreme Court's decision that Puerto Rico is a territory is sound.

"The reality remains that the solution is not in the courts. It should be based on the will of the people, and in 2012, 54% voted against the continuation of the territorial status and 61% voted for statehood as the non-territorial option. LULAC supports the will of the Puerto Rican people in their effort to gain statehood status, and with it, all the rights currently enjoyed by other American citizens."

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteer-based organization that empowers Hispanic Americans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 1000 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.LULAC.org.