Points of clarification for the president to consider.

A Memorial Day ceremony in San Juan on Monday, May 25, 2026.

May 23, 2026

To Hon Donald Trump

President

White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington DC 20500

RE: THE DENIAL OF VOTING RIGHTS IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS TO THE AMERICAN CITIZENS RESIDENTS OF PUERTO RICO BASED ON THE WAY THEY MAY VOTE (DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN) UNDER STATEHOOD 

Dear President Trump:

I am a Republican, and have supported both of your administrations, but not your political denial of voting rights to the American citizens residents of Puerto Rico under statehood, as you publicly stated last week. Your comments are contradictory to those you made in response to my letter requesting your support for Puerto Rico to be certified by Congress as an incorporated territory, when de facto it is, April 21, 2026. There you stated: 

“... Thank you for taking the time to share your views.

We are in the midst of the most extraordinary period of political reform in the history of our country — and we will continue making good on our promises to the American people and advancing our agenda of prosperity, peace, safety, and success ...”

Federal elections laws are clear on voters’ rights. Your comments are evidence that your advisors did not inform you of the legal and political consequences of what you said to the American citizen residents of Puerto Rico to justify denial of statehood status.

Consider:

 • In a federal, state, or local general election, you do not have to:

 • declare a political party

 • vote for the party you are registered with

 • Depending on state’s rules, you may only be allowed to vote for the political party you are registered with. Applicable only when you vote in:

 • a presidential primary or caucus

 • congressional or local office primaries.

Thus in the general election, you are eligible to vote for any candidate from any party. 

 • it does not matter if you are registered with a political party or who you voted for in the past.

 • you can vote in the general election even if you did not vote in your state’s primary or caucus.

The American citizens of Puerto Rico have been denied participation to vote in federal elections for over 128 years. Your comment is not only a denial to vote under the U.S. Constitution (Articles XIV and XV), but has national political consequences. You did not consider that over 6 million Puerto Ricans live in the states, making them the second-largest Hispanic group in the country. It is significantly larger than the population on the island, with the Northeast and Florida accounting for the majority of mainland Puerto Ricans.

Consider the states with the largest approximate Puerto Rican populations:

 • Florida: 1.3 million (The largest population, largely centered around the Orlando and Tampa areas).

 • New York: 1 million (Historically the primary hub for stateside migration).

 • Pennsylvania: 494,000

 • New Jersey: 484,000

 • Massachusetts: 330,000

 • Connecticut: 300,000 (Puerto Ricans make up the largest share of the population here, at 8.3%)

 • Texas & California: Both states have surpassed 200,000.

As you can see, we have political power in states and can decide federal elections, including midterm elections in November 2026. In addition, your comments are in contradiction to the U.S. demand for democratic rights for the citizens of other countries (Cuba, Venezuela, Iran) and, ironically, using our young people to defend these rights in military activities, risking their lives while not being able to vote for their commander in chief. Particularly, consider how families in Puerto Rico that have lost a relative in active duty will feel this Memorial Day with such a comment.

It is important, Mr. President, that you reconsider and publicly clarify your policy on our voting rights in federal elections under constitutional law, and under international treaties to which the U.S. is signatory (Int Covenant of Civil and Political Rights), and as related to statehood for Puerto Rico. Voting rights were reconsidered for African Americans in 1968.

After 128 years, Puerto Rico is a “de facto incorporated U.S. territory” which Congress must certify and officially consider in transit to statehood. Our discriminatory servitude of democratic denial to vote in federal elections must end.

If you do reconsider, I will gladly and respectfully reconsider, and the over six million American citizens residing in the states, and other Hispanics, will reconsider as well. 

Respectfully yours,

GREGORIO IGARTUA

Attorney at Law (Republican)