An Island Exposed. A Constitution Ignored.

Hello hermanos y hermanas,

Puerto Rico is the first place I ever called home. I was born and raised here before moving to New Jersey at eight years old. What is happening on the island right now sits close to my heart.

I am presently on the west side of the island. Drones have hovered overhead since last night. As we drove into Cabo Rojo, a large military blimp hung in the sky. The presence feels constant. I am scheduled to fly out tomorrow, yet Caribbean airspace shut down today. Commercial flights are grounded. Only military aircraft move through our skies.

Puerto Rico is not only an island. It is a strategic military site. Eight United States military bases operate here. We are seeing visible escalation. The U.S. Air Force reportedly shut off transponders across much of its fleet. Aircraft no longer appear on public tracking systems. A KC-135 Stratotanker remains visible off the coast, likely supporting refueling operations. This is not normal activity.

I want to be clear about Venezuela. I do not support Nicolás Maduro. I reject how he has governed the country. I reject his policies, his claim to legitimacy, and the harm inflicted on the Venezuelan people. Authoritarian rule and corruption have caused deep suffering.

At the same time, the rule of law matters. Process matters. It is dangerous when governments abandon legal constraints, bypass oversight, and act without accountability. Military action without Congressional approval sets a precedent none of us should accept.

This escalation follows a United States attack on Venezuela carried out without Congressional authorization. Once again, President Trump ignored checks and balances. Puerto Rico, only 500 miles from Venezuela, becomes exposed in moments like this. Our people carry the risk without consent, transparency, or protection.

History shows the impact of United States military intervention in Latin America. It has brought instability, violence, poverty, and lasting damage. Puerto Ricans know this history well. We know what it means to be treated as a strategic asset instead of as people.

Many on the island feel fear and uncertainty. People wonder what comes next. They worry whether Puerto Rico will again face danger due to decisions made far from our shores. We deserve safety. We deserve accountability. We deserve a foreign policy grounded in diplomacy and law.

Please keep Puerto Rico in your thoughts. Share what is happening here. Our island and our people must not become collateral damage. Leaders must answer for reckless decisions.

Con amor y solidaridad.

Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez