Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the Northeastern Caribbean Sea. The territory is comprised of the main island, and a strand of smaller islands which include Vieques, Culebra, and Mona. San Juan is the most populous city, and the official languages of Puerto Rico are Spanish and English.

The US acquired Puerto Rico after the Spanish-American War, under the Treaty of Paris. It became a US territory on April 11, 1899. Those who are born in the island-country are in effect, US citizens, allowing them to freely move from the mainland and the US. The territory isn’t considered a US state, so doesn’t have the right to vote in Presidential Elections.

US Congress governs Puerto Rico’s political system under the Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950. The country’s judicial system also mimics that of the US, with the Puerto Rico Supreme Court and a United States District Court being appointed for the territory.

The US territory has been hit by many natural disasters throughout its history, including the latest, Hurricane Maria, in 2017. The category 4 storm greatly impacted the local communities, damaging most homes on the islands, and as of November 2017, only ⅔ of the home’s in the islands, had electric power fully restored. Over $95 billion in damages resulted on the island following the major storm, with FEMA having received over 1 million requests for aid by the end of 2017.

The country is subject to the plenary powers of the US under the territorial clause of Article IV in the US Constitutions. Natural born citizens are also considered US Citizens, which is governed by the Jones-Shafroth Act of 1917. Several executive branches also have a strong presence in Puerto Rico, including the FBI, TSA, FEMA, SSA, and other agencies. The island-nation is also limited in its foreign relations under the Territorial Clause of the US Constitution.

Puerto Rico is classified as a high-income economy by the World Bank, however the island-nation currently has a total debt of over $72 billion. Manufacturing is a primary driver of the economy. Textiles, pharmaceuticals, the service industry, real estate, and tourism, are also strong contributors to the territory’s economy. As a US territory, foreign policy, restricting shipping and trading with other nations, is governed by the US.

Hurricane damage and relief funds, the economy, trade, travel, and foreign relations, are some of the different forms of news coverage visitors to the National Law Review will find, as it relates to Puerto Rico and the United States. Environmental and energy news, equal pay and labor and employment law concerns, government aid, insurance claims, and tax-related news coverage, are all topics the National Law Review covers.

Custom text Title Organization
Feb
5
2024
Remote Workers in Puerto Rico Could Be Exempted From Puerto Rico’s Employment Laws Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jan
17
2024
New Law Regulates Remote Work, Promotes Establishment of Airline Home Bases in Puerto Rico Jackson Lewis P.C.
Sep
25
2023
FinCEN Penalizes Puerto Rican Bank for BSA Violations in First Enforcement Action Involving the “Gap Rule” Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Jun
7
2023
Game On: Mid-Year Update on U.S. Gaming Industry's Expanding Regulations, Legislation, and Launches Blank Rome LLP
May
29
2023
Investigation Spurs Launch of Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) Environmental Crimes Task Force Oberheiden P.C.
May
23
2023
Next Puerto Rico Minimum Wage Increase: July 1, 2023 Jackson Lewis P.C.
May
14
2023
Puerto Rico Five-Day Paid Leave for COVID-19 Ends as Governor Ends Related State of Emergency Jackson Lewis P.C.
Mar
30
2023
Bondholders Should Reevaluate Indenture Provisions in Light of PREPA Lien Challenge Decision ArentFox Schiff LLP
Mar
21
2023
Puerto Rico House Seeks Injunction on Court Decision Striking Down 2022 Labor Reform Jackson Lewis P.C.
Mar
14
2023
EPA Announces P2 Grant for Environmental Justice through Safer and More Sustainable Products Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.
Mar
9
2023
Employee Benefits and Rights in Puerto Rico: What to Know Now That Law 41-2022 Has Been Declared Null and Void Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Mar
7
2023
Federal Court Strikes Down Amendments to Puerto Rico 2017 Employment Law Reform Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jan
10
2023
Latest Climate Change Tort Lawsuit Brings Civil RICO Claims Mintz
Dec
29
2022
Puerto Rico Adds Legal Protections for Interns, Right to Paid Internships Jackson Lewis P.C.
Nov
3
2022
Puerto Rico Publishes Model Protocol for Expanded Sexual Harassment Law Jackson Lewis P.C.
Oct
28
2022
Puerto Rico Passes Law Requiring Employers to Implement Harassment Policies Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Oct
19
2022
Puerto Rico Disability Discrimination Law Covers Registered and Authorized Medical Cannabis Patients Jackson Lewis P.C.
Oct
4
2022
Puerto Rico Expands Coverage of Sexual Harassment Law, Requires Employers to Adopt a Protocol Jackson Lewis P.C.
Sep
25
2022
Immigration Help Available to Those Affected by Natural Disasters and Other Unforeseen Circumstances U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Sep
21
2022
EPA to Assist Hurricane Fiona Response U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Sep
9
2022
Medical Technology Company President Convicted for Participation in $77 Million COVID-19 and Allergy Testing Scheme ArentFox Schiff LLP
Sep
6
2022
Litigation Filed in Federal Court Seeks to Nullify Recent Amendments to Puerto Rico Employment Laws Jackson Lewis P.C.
Aug
23
2022
Renewable Energy in Latin America Updates August 2022 Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Aug
1
2022
Lessons for Manufacturers and Dealers in Federal Court’s Denial of Request for Injunction Under Dealership Statute Foley & Lardner LLP
Jun
22
2022
Amendments to Puerto Rico 2017 Employment Law Reform Employers Need to Know Jackson Lewis P.C.
Mar
22
2022
White House Focuses on Pay Equity and Transparency Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Feb
25
2022
Major Rollbacks to Puerto Rico 2017 Employment Law Reform Loom on the Horizon Jackson Lewis P.C.
Feb
21
2022
Candidates Liable for Campaign Texts?: Child Actor and Former Presidential Candidate Facing Personal Liability in TCPA Class Action in Puerto Rico Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP
Jan
5
2022
Undisclosed Arrears Come Back to Bite Bank Nelson Mullins
Jan
3
2022
Puerto Rico Expands COVID-19 Booster Requirement, Limits Operation Capacity of Certain Businesses Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jan
3
2022
Time Is Money: A Quick Wage-Hour Tip on …Did You Remember to Make Necessary Changes to Comply with New 2022 State and Local Wage-Hour Laws? Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.
Dec
28
2021
Puerto Rico: COVID-19 Boosters Required for Workers in Healthcare, Educational Settings Jackson Lewis P.C.
Dec
22
2021
Puerto Rico Expands COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements to Cover Certain Commercial Establishments Jackson Lewis P.C.
Nov
30
2021
What’s in a Name? Court Holds That Despite Its Title, a Security Agreement Also Subordinated Junior Creditor’s Rights to Payment Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Nov
16
2021
Puerto Rico Expands Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination to Private Employers With at Least 50 Employees Jackson Lewis P.C.
Sep
23
2021
IRS Targeting Those Who “Relocated” To Puerto Rico in the Wake of Act 22 Oberheiden P.C.
Sep
21
2021
Puerto Rico Adopts Minimum Wage Act Jackson Lewis P.C.
Sep
18
2021
Puerto Rico Governor Issues Executive Orders Requiring COVID-19 Vaccinations Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Aug
23
2021
Puerto Rico Governor Extends Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccination to Additional Private Industries Jackson Lewis P.C.
Aug
12
2021
Puerto Rico Extends Mandatory Vaccination to Dining and Entertainment Sectors Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jul
30
2021
Employers in Puerto Rico Must Implement Workplace Harassment Protocol by August 2 Jackson Lewis P.C.
Jul
30
2021
Registered and Authorized Medical Cannabis Patients in Puerto Rico Gain Employment Protections Jackson Lewis P.C.
May
7
2021
Puerto Rico Legislature Rethinks 2017 Employment Reform, Adds Protection for Medical Cannabis Users Jackson Lewis P.C.
Feb
24
2021
Puerto Rico Issues Guidance for Nursing Rooms in Workplace Jackson Lewis P.C.
Feb
5
2021
Puerto Rico Issues Guidelines Implementing Law Against Workplace Bullying Jackson Lewis P.C.
Feb
1
2021
Puerto Rico Government Plan-to-Private Plan Rollovers Allowed Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Jan
21
2021
Dealing With Missing Participants in Terminating Puerto Rico 401(k) Plans Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Dec
4
2020
Global Solutions, Flash Briefing: Puerto Rico’s COVID-19 Reporting Requirement [PODCAST] Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Oct
30
2020
Time to Vote: Employee and Employer Voting Leave Rights and Obligations for the 2020 Elections Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
Oct
6
2020
Puerto Rico–Qualified Retirement Plans: 2020 Year-End Amendments Deadline Coming Soon Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C.
 

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