Puerto Rico wary of statehood due to taxes and cultural identity

Puerto Rico residents interviewed by Fox News Digital oppose becoming the 51st state, warning that federal taxes could rise, the cost of living could spike, and the island could lose its cultural identity. The piece notes Puerto Rico’s current tax arrangement and how statehood would bring it under the federal tax system, while highlighting economic anxieties and concerns about “Americanization.” Some residents reference politics around President Trump and the island’s debt, and a 2024 nonbinding referendum showed majority support for statehood, though opinions vary and independence is also discussed as a possibility.,