Hostosianos support McClintock’s bill which has little support locally

Although MINH maintains that any congressional initiative should explicitly acknowledge independence as a legitimate and viable option, local political consensus remains difficult to achieve.

By THE STAR STAFF

The Hostosiano National Independence Movement (MINH) has endorsed U.S. Congressman Tom McClintock’s proposal to introduce legislation for a referendum on Puerto Rico’s self-determination and independence. However, the measure—driven largely by Puerto Rican diaspora organizations in the United States—has gained little traction among political sectors on the island.

The bill calls for a status vote that would exclude the option of full annexation under Washington’s colonial rule, in place since 1898—a scenario strongly opposed by former President Donald Trump.

“Inspired by the political and ethical thought of Eugenio María de Hostos, we reaffirm that independence is not an isolated act or a concession, but a democratic, inclusive, and participatory process that must recognize the will of all Puerto Ricans, both those residing in Puerto Rico and those who are part of our broad and diverse diaspora,” MINH stated.

Represented in the initiative by Jaime Inclán, a member of its National Directorate, the organization stressed that “the Hostosian principle of human dignity and the sovereignty of the people demands that any proposal regarding Puerto Rico’s political future recognize the Puerto Rican nation in its entirety.”

“The diaspora is an integral part of our country, its history, and its future,” added MINH in written statements sent to Prensa Latina in San Juan, signed by co-presidents Carlos Vega Pérez and Ángel Rodríguez León.

Puerto Rico’s population is estimated at nine million, though only 3.2 million currently reside on the island. Hurricane Maria in 2019 triggered the migration of some 600,000 people, adding to decades of U.S. policies encouraging emigration since the 1940s.

While MINH insists that any congressional initiative must explicitly recognize independence as a legitimate and viable option, local political consensus remains elusive. Most major parties and sectors on the island have shown little interest in supporting McClintock’s measure, leaving its prospects uncertain.