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Fate of Equal Rights for U.S. Territories Case Uncertain Following First Supreme Court Hearing on SSI Benefits

In a release issued Wednesday, Equally American, which advocates for equal rights for citizens in U.S. territories, said the U.S. Supreme Court was asked on Tuesday to consider what four words emblazoned on the front of the Court – “Equal Justice Under Law” – mean for the 3.5 million citizens living in U.S. territories. At issue was whether the denial of Supplemental Security Income benefits to José L. Vaello Madero based solely on his place of residence in Puerto Rico violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equal protection. Two lower courts ruled favorably for Mr. Vaello Madero, but it was unclear after oral argument whether the Supreme Court would affirm or reverse those decisions. “The argument was much farther ranging than I expected,” said Neil Weare, president and founder of Equally American. “We weren’t given a lot in the way of answers on what most of the Justices were thinking. It was clear that many of them were still thinking through – sometimes out loud – what they wan...