A recently leaked memorandum directed to President Trump and key administration officials outlines a potential roadmap for Puerto Rico’s transition to sovereignty, challenging decades of political inertia and sending shockwaves through the island’s political establishment.
The document, titled “Addressing Puerto Rico’s Political Status through Executive Action,” takes direct aim at the feasibility of Puerto Rico becoming the 51st state – something many Texans can appreciate when we hear similar arguments about why Texas should remain subordinate to Washington D.C.
The memorandum pulls no punches. It clearly states that “statehood is not a viable and feasible option for either Puerto Rico or the United States,” citing a 2014 Government Accountability Office report that detailed the significant economic and fiscal challenges statehood would impose. This is refreshing honesty in Washington, where political convenience typically trumps hard truths.
The memorandum recommends a decisive shift toward sovereignty options – either full independence or free association – and proposes a Federal Task Force to develop a comprehensive transition plan. This approach balances urgency with inclusivity by bringing together federal agencies, Congress, and Puerto Rican stakeholders to create a viable path forward.
“For decades, the debate over Puerto Rico’s status has been mired in political inertia and competing interests. This bold and well-reasoned document provides a clear, actionable framework for resolving a centuries-old issue,” says Javier Hernandez, writer, analyst, and author of “PREXIT: Forging Puerto Rico’s Path to Sovereignty.”
This is an historic moment for Puerto Rico. After 125 years of colonial status, the island could finally regain its sovereignty through a structured process that preserves its unique cultural identity while establishing a relationship with the United States based on mutual respect rather than subjugation.
The parallel to Texas’s situation is striking. Both face the challenge of breaking free from a bloated federal system that stifles self-determination. The key difference? Puerto Rico may now have a clear executive pathway to sovereignty that’s gaining traction in Washington.
For the newly elected pro-statehood Governor Jenniffer González, this memorandum has upended political calculations. Her administration reportedly believed Republican leadership would never support Puerto Rican sovereignty. That assumption has now been shattered as the Trump administration is looking to tighten the belt of the bloated federal bureaucracy, much like how many Texas politicians mistakenly assume Washington would never allow Texas to reassert its independence.
Pro-sovereignty leaders in Puerto Rico are rightfully celebrating this development as a long-overdue acknowledgment of their right to self-government. The memorandum’s suggestion of a Treaty of Friendship & Cooperation between a sovereign Puerto Rico and the United States demonstrates that independence doesn’t mean isolation – it means equal footing.
The proposed timeline is particularly interesting. The task force would deliver a transition plan within two years, and by year three, Puerto Rico would move toward establishing a transitional government, holding a constitutional convention, and adopting a sovereign democratic system. This structured approach ensures an orderly transition while allowing Puerto Ricans to shape their own political future.
For Texans, this development in Puerto Rico should serve as both encouragement and a call to action. If a territory that has been under U.S. control for over a century can chart a path to sovereignty with potential federal support, surely Texas – with its stronger constitutional footing, larger economy, and deeper historical claims to independence – can forge its own exit strategy.
The bottom line is that freedom has a momentum all its own. As conversations about self-determination gain traction globally, the old argument that “it can never happen here” loses more of its sting. The Puerto Rico memorandum is further evidence that independence movements aren’t just idle dreams – they’re increasingly viable political realities.
The time-frame in which Puerto Rico ultimately achieves sovereignty remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the question of self-determination is firmly on the table. As we continue our own fight for Texas independence, we would do well to watch this process unfold and learn from it.
After all, a union that was born in revolution against colonial rule should not be surprised when its own territories and states eventually seek their freedom.
