This is a false premise.
Puerto Rico has three choices: Petition for statehood, or petition for independence, or remain a Commonwealth. The first two require initiative action by Puerto Rico and approval by the United States. The third requires no action.
Neither statehood nor independence is a unilateral option. Both Puerto Rico and the United States must approve it.
In the case of statehood, Puerto Rico must convince the United States that it is advantageous to the United States to admit another state. So far I have seen no effort to do so.
In the case of independence, Puerto Rico must convince the United States that Puerto Rico is ready to stand on its own in the world community of sovereign states. So far I have seen no effort to do so.
What I have seen to date is only a lot of verbiage saying how good statehood would be for Puerto Rico. And that just doesn't cut it.
Neither statehood nor independence is a right. It must be earned.
a fine summary with a good dose of common sense. Thank you, sir.