Supreme Court of the United States
Dear Supreme Court: 3.5 million Americans in territories deserve same federal benefits
On Social Security and food stamps, the exclusion of territories is linked to racist, discredited theories about colonial governance. It exacerbates poverty.
Karl A. Racine and Leevin T. Camacho
Opinion contributors
What do American citizens living in Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands and American Samoa all have in common? They lack equal access to federal social safety net programs, like Supplemental Security Income and food stamps that lift families and children out of poverty.
By now, you’re thinking that there must be a good explanation for why 3.5 million American citizens – 98% of whom are ethnic minorities – are excluded from these benefits.