History

• Puerto Rico was ceded to the United States after the Spanish-American War in 1898. In 1917, the United States granted U.S. citizenship to all Puerto Ricans, and in 1952, Puerto Rico became a commonwealth territory of the United States.
  
  

The Facts

• Although Puerto Ricans are United States citizens, because they're part of a territorial commonwealth, they cannot vote in the presidential elections unless they move to the U.S. proper. But they do pay federal payroll taxes.
  
  

Misconceptions

• A common misconception is that Puerto Rico is a "foreign country," when in fact it's part of the United States. Puerto Ricans are often asked for passports, birth certificates or green cards in airports when traveling and even when applying for work.
  
  

Considerations

• There has been debate over the years about whether Puerto Rico should become an official U.S. state. Groups like the Puerto Rico Statehood Society and the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonization have argued both sides.
  
  

Potential

• Ultimately, Puerto Ricans and the United States government will have to come to an agreement about whether Puerto Rico will be an autonomous country or a U.S. state. That clarity would help Puerto Ricans when they're traveling through the U.S., especially when they're trying to explain why they don't need a passport.