Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/21pdf/20-303_6khn.pdf
Page Number: 43.0

10 

UNITED STATES v. VAELLO MADERO 

SOTOMAYOR, J., dissenting 

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SSI is designed to support the neediest citizens.  As a pro-
gram of last resort, it is aimed at preventing the most se-
vere poverty.  In view of that core purpose, denying benefits 
to hundreds of thousands of eligible Puerto Rico residents
because  they  do  not  pay  enough  in  taxes  is  utterly  irra-
tional. 

Congress’ decision to deny to the U. S. citizens of Puerto
Rico a social safety net that it provides to almost all other 
U. S.  citizens  is  especially  cruel  given  those  citizens’  dire
need  for  aid.  Puerto  Rico  has  a  disproportionately  large 
population of seniors and people with disabilities.  See Brief 
for AARP et al. as Amici Curiae 8–10.  The Census Bureau 
estimated that in 2019, 43.5% of residents of Puerto Rican 
residents lived below the poverty line—more than triple the 
national  percentage  of  12.3%.  See  C.  Benson,  American 
Community  Survey  Briefs,  Poverty:  2018  and  2019,  p.  5 
(Sept.  2020),  https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/
library/publications/2020/acs/acsbr20-04.pdf.

Equal treatment of citizens should not be left to the va-
garies of the political process.  Because residents of Puerto 
Rico  do  not  have  voting  representation  in  Congress,  they
cannot rely on their elected representatives to remedy the 
punishing disparities suffered by citizen residents of Puerto
Rico under Congress’ unequal treatment. 

The Constitution permits Congress to “make all needful 
Rules and Regulations” respecting the Territories.  Art. IV, 
§3,  cl. 2.    That  constitutional  command  does  not  permit 
Congress to ignore the equally weighty constitutional com-
mand that it treat United States citizens equally.  I respect-
fully dissent.