Puerto Rican Americans

The Puerto Rican American Population

Differing from other immigrant populations, Puerto Ricans, either born on the island or in the states, are American citizens. Currently, Puerto Ricans hold nine percent of the Latino Population in the United States, thus making them the second largest Latino group nation- wide. In modern day, despite newer migration trends, Puerto Ricans are still frequently migrating to culturally dense areas of cities like NYC and Philadelphia (Ennis, 2011) . The reason for such trends is due to comfortability. By remaining in areas of dense Puerto Rican culture, these immigrants have been able to maintain a rich culture. Spiritually, many Puerto Ricans still hold strong to their Christian faith – dominantly catholic. Food and language is still shared within these micro-societies as well. Although Puerto Ricans are citizens and considered the most “Americanized” of Hispanic immigrant, Puerto Rican immigration to the United States is not a new or easy transition. They face many difficulties as do most immigrants even though they are a of a difference circumstance.

Puerto Rico has been under the control of the United States since 1898, after it gained control over the island from Spain. Although Puerto Ricans were migrating to the Mainland prior to becoming a territory, an influx of migration accorded in the 1920’s. This is due to the Jones- Shafroth Act, which gave citizenship to all of those living on the island (Mindel, 2012). This has allowed them to escape the barriers of migration that other immigrants face. This kinship has fueled migratory patterns between the United States and the island for the past century.

The largest influx on migration from Puerto Rico took place in the early and late twentieth century. During these times, Puerto Ricans were recruited as low paid workers. Although they were being paid lower wages by United States standards, they were making significantly more than they could on the Island. Since United...