What are the possible downsides for Puerto Ricans if Puerto Rico becomes a state?

Question

My impression from reading about Puerto Rican views on statehood is that besides the pro-statehood and the pro-independence camp, there also is significant support for the status quo. Of course, some of this support might be come from those who consider their preferred goal unattainable, and don't want to waste resources on pursuing something unachievable. But I am still wondering whether there are downsides for Puerto Rico from their standpoint to becoming a US State, other than this making independence much harder to achieve?

Some background reading (thanks Jontia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Status_quo_movement_in_Puerto_Rico

For example, in the 2012 referendum 46% voted for keeping the status quo.

Answer 1

The only two certainties in life are death and taxes.

While Puerto Ricans do pay some federal taxes such as FICA (Social Security), for the most part, Puerto Ricans currently do not pay federal income taxes. Becoming a state would immediately subject all Puerto Ricans to the federal income tax. There would most likely be enhanced benefits to Puerto Rico should it become a state, but this is not a certainty. Being subject to federal income tax would be an absolute certainty.

¿Habla Inglés?

Despite the fact that the US does not have an official language, there would be huge pressure on Puerto Rico to make English be its dominate language should it become a state. This would likely result in a reduction of their Hispanic heritage and culture. Puerto Ricans are very proud of their culture, which is older than that of the US.

Answer 2

The language barrier there isn't merely an inconvenience. The English-Spanish debate has been contentious there before

In 1991 the government of Puerto Rico, under the administration of PPD's Rafael Hernández Colón, made Spanish its sole official language through a law that was commonly called the "Spanish-only Law." In recognition of the historical defense of the Spanish language and culture, the Spanish Monarchy awarded Puerto Rico the Principe de Asturias' Prize that same year. On 4 January 1993, the 12th Legislative Assembly, with the support of the newly elected PNP government of Pedro Rosselló González passed Senate Bill 1, establishing both Spanish and English as official languages of the government of Puerto Rico.

In 2009, the grassroots community cultural organization Unidos por Nuestro Idioma ("United for our language"), whose goal is "defending Spanish in Puerto Rico", expressed concern that the use of English terms on official road signs reading "Welcome to Guaynabo City", and on mass transit ("City Hall" and "Downtown") as well as police cruisers ("San Juan Police Department") were evidence of the English language replacing Spanish in official use. The group advocates the defense and use of Spanish in Puerto Rico. The group states it is not against the use of English, recognizing the importance of Puerto Ricans learning it, but states that it should not displace Spanish.

This would be the first state where English was not the predominant language of its population. The 2000 census found very few people there speak English

Both Spanish and English are the official languages of Puerto Rico, but Spanish is without a doubt the dominant language, as the majority of the people in Puerto Rico are not proficient in English. Fewer than 20 percent of Puerto Ricans speak English fluently, according to the 2000 U.S. Census.

Hawaii, by contrast, had been forced by the US government to switch long before it became a state so it never really became as large an issue. There would be increased pressure to have more English taught and used.