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Puerto Rico Advisory Committee

Current Topic

Insular Cases and the Unincorporated Territory Doctrine

The Puerto Rico Advisory Committee (Committee) to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is undertaking a study on The Insular Cases and the Doctrine of the Unincorporated Territory and its Effect on the Civil Rights of the Residents of Puerto Rico. This is the first USCCR Advisory Committee of its kind in Puerto Rico, and the first to conduct its meetings and develop its work products primarily in Spanish. The Committee has been holding a series of panels on the following topics - a general overview of the Insular Cases and the Doctrine of Non-Incorporation, the right to vote at the federal level, racial and national discrimination, and access to federal public programs, as they work to develop recommendations for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. The Committee has been collecting testimony from diverse subject matter experts and stakeholders and intends to identify areas for improvement and develop recommendations accordingly through a series of memoranda leading up to a final report.

Reports

The Insular Cases and the Doctrine of the Unincorporated Territory and its Effects on the Civil Rights of the Residents of Puerto Rico (Memorandum)
February 12, 2024

Additional Reports

Meetings and News

Meeting Announcements and Briefing Materials 

News on Member Appointments, Report Releases, and More

Other

Members, Meetings & Reports on FACA Database

Status
Appointed and with a project
Contact
Evelyn Bohor, Support Specialist
ebohor@usccr.gov
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Committee Members

TERM  |  Jan 21, 2022 - Jan 20, 2026 

Andrés L. Córdova, Chair

Frank Arenal

Ramón C. Barquín III, Vice Chair                         

Manuel “Lin” Iglesias-Beléndez

Sergio M. Marxuach

José O. Olmos

Ever Padilla-Ruíz, Secretary

Dan Santiago

William E. Villafañe Ramos


Interested in Applying?

The Puerto Rico Advisory Committee's four-year term will expire on January 20, 2026. If you are interested in serving on the Committee in its next term, please apply.

Apply Now  (También en español)