Most Puerto Ricans would prefer to live in Puerto Rico with only a fairly decent income than to earn maybe 50 percent more and have to put up with all the disagreeable conditions which confront Puerto Ricans in New York
– News Aspects of Puerto Rican Migration by Roberto Carleton
In 1917 through the Jones act, Puerto Ricans were given a United States citizenship but with restrictions. Since it was decided that Puerto Rico belonged to the United Stated but was not included, Puerto Ricans were denied the right to vote. Many laws apply in Puerto Rico as they do in the U.S. but not with the same enforcement. This caused many reasons for migration from Puerto Rico to the United States. According to the article, News Aspects of Puerto Rican Migration by Roberto Carleton, in the 1950s there was a mass migration of Puerto Ricans since the population growth grew quickly.
It has been evident that for many years, the migration of Puerto Ricans from Puerto Rico to the United States and vice versa, has been for the same reasons. There has always been a problem with a high number of unemployment, low wages and unskilled labor. When Puerto Rico has bad conditions, Puerto Ricans seek for help and better opportunities by migrating to the United States.
Some of the immigration was undoubtedly temporary and related to the conditions of recession and unemployment prevailing on the mainland at that time.
According to Roberto Carleton’s article, there was a migration of about 60,000 people from 1957 to 1958. Puerto Ricans were wanting to leave their land due to the recession and the high rates of unemployment. This source tells historians that Puerto Rico has not been stable for many years and because of it, its residents are paying for that. It shows that this is an ongoing issue and after more than 50 years, the same issues persist in this territory.
Migration is a common thing in this territory since Puerto Ricans have to move in seek of opportunities. This source was created to put awareness that Puerto Ricans tend to migrate to the U.S. because their home land is so unstable. Even though this land is controlled by the U.S. it does not mean the same exact regulations apply. This source was created by Roberto Carleton for the Social Science Annual meetings. He refers to the repetitive migration cycle as two-way migration. This source has a bias towards Puerto Ricans because it explains and informs the public that Puerto Ricans have a hard life in their land regardless of their American citizenship. The intended audience is for those that think Puerto Ricans have exactly the same living situations as the typical American in the United States has.
– Claudia Urias