The U.S. Has a Colonies Problem: The Campaign to Overrule the Insular Cases

Last month’s decision in United States v. Vaello Madero, underscored once again that the United States has a colonies problem. In Vaello Madero, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a damaging blow to equity in U.S. territories by overturning lower court decisions that determined that withholding SSI from people in Puerto Rico was arbitrary and unconstitutional. Hispanic Federation, ACLU, Equally American, and LatinoJustice PRLDEF for a conversation about what the SCOTUS decision means, what comes next, and an emerging campaign on the need to overturn the Insular Cases once and for all. The panelists will share what you can do to press the Biden administration, Congress, and the courts to finally turn the page on the racist, colonial legacy of the Insular Cases. The next few months will determine whether Congress will act to extend SSI and other federal benefits to residents of U.S. territories, whether the Supreme Court will take up a case that could allow it to overrule the Insular Cases, and whether President Biden will follow through on his commitments to Puerto Rico. Speakers include: —Maritere Padilla Rodriguez, Director of Policy and Advocacy, Hispanic Federation (Moderator) —Alejandro Ortiz, Senior Staff Attorney, ACLU Racial Justice Program —Laura M. Esquivel, Vice President of Federal Policy and Advocacy, Hispanic Federation —Lía Fiol-Matta, Senior Counsel, LatinoJustice PRLDEF —Neil Weare, President and Founder, Equally American