A senior official of the United States Virgin Islands (USVI) government is calling on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to terminate the classification of residents of US territories, including those in the Caribbean, as second-class citizens.
Teri Helenese, Director of State and Federal Relations for the USVI Virgin Islands government, spearheaded this initiative, emphasizing the urgent need to overhaul policies that undermine the fundamental rights and dignity of these American citizens.
Criticizing the entrenched undemocratic colonial framework established by the infamous Insular Cases, Helenese highlights the detrimental impact of labeling inhabitants of Puerto Rico, Guam, and other “unincorporated” US territories as “half-civilized” or “alien races.”
These outdated notions, originating from a bygone era, have perpetuated a system where constitutional rights and democratic participation are denied based on arbitrary judgments of fitness and understanding of Anglo-Saxon principles.
Demand for repeal
Joining a chorus of voices advocating for the repeal of these archaic legal precedents, Helenese underscores the necessity of abolishing what she describes as an anachronistic legal stance.
She contends that the persistence of such discriminatory practices not only undermines the integrity of the American republic but also inflicts irreparable harm on the residents of these territories.
Moral imperative
Helenese passionately asserts that rectifying this injustice is not merely a legal matter but a moral imperative.
Citing the condemnation of the Insular Cases by prominent figures across party lines, including Supreme Court Justices Sotomayor and Gorsuch, she stresses that racial prejudices have no place in the modern legal landscape.
Echoing the sentiments of USVI Governor Albert Bryan, Helenese insists that Virgin Islanders deserve full civil and political rights guaranteed by the US Constitution.
Call for immediate action
In alignment with President Joe Biden’s assertion that there can be no second-class citizens in the United States of America, Helenese urges the Department of Justice to abandon its reliance on the Insular Cases.
She joins fellow leaders in demanding swift action to expunge the stain of these cases from the legal system.
Beyond redressing past injustices, Helenese believes that repealing these measures will restore the foundational principles of justice and equality upon which America was built.
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