III.

Puerto Ricans

The second largest subgroup of Hispanic Americans is Puerto Ricans. About 3.5 million Puerto Ricans live in the United States, primarily in New York and New Jersey. Another 3.8 million live in Puerto Rico, a commonwealth associated with the United States.

A portion of Puerto Ricans living in the United States are former jíbaros (rural folk) who migrated from the countryside of Puerto Rico in the 1960s. Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. commonwealth and Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, they are eligible for many federal benefits not available to other groups. However, many people feel that welfare programs have trapped many poor Puerto Ricans in a cycle of poverty. Others maintain that discrimination in employment and education—not welfare—are the major forces that have kept some Puerto Ricans in poverty.