By Ron Rocky ColomaPacific Island Times

Flags of the United States and Guam
Photo: 123RF

As the 2024 U.S. elections approach, diaspora leaders in U.S. territories have begun discussions about how their communities can participate in the political process.

A virtual dialogue hosted by Right to Democracy on October 25 explored ways to better engage voters in Guam, the Northern Marianas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa and the U.S. Virgin Islands, as part of a more broad aimed at mobilizing these communities and advocating for their unique issues in American politics.

Angelo Villagomez, an environmental organizer from the Northern Marianas, and James Servino, a human rights advocate from Guam, shared their perspectives on the complexities and challenges of representing small, dispersed communities.

Other speakers presented the context of the social, economic and political issues having an impact on the territories.

Villagomez and Servino highlighted how residents of U.S. territories often feel overlooked in broader American political conversations, despite their unique status and contributions to American culture and politics.

Residents of the territories cannot vote in presidential elections and are not represented in Congress, leaving them largely absent from federal policymaking.

Villagomez noted that Pacific Islanders are often classified as Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, or AAPI, an umbrella term that he says can dilute their identity and overlook their specific needs.

“We often get caught up in the broader label of AAPI, but when it comes time to actually discuss our issues, we’re not at the table,” he said. “During AAPI Month there are panels and discussions, but too often we are invited into the conversation but still feel invisible.”

Villagomez noted that this lack of representation leaves Pacific Islanders feeling invisible within their own political category, contributing to a sense of disconnection and lack of engagement in American political processes.

Servino echoed Villagomez’s concerns, adding that visibility issues persist even in advocacy and legislative circles, where Pacific Island issues receive low priority.

Having worked with the Human Rights Campaign on the mainland and in Guam, Servino sees the potential for the territories to unite around a common agenda, but emphasizes the need for a better policy framework that meets their needs unique.

The interterritorial dialogue highlighted the need for greater unity and cooperation between territories to achieve policy changes that could improve representation.

Organizers believe such a unified approach will ensure that the unique issues facing each territory are brought to the forefront in the national discourse, particularly regarding U.S. policies on immigration, climate change, health care health and economic investment.

Villagomez explained how such cooperation could materialize in practice. “We’re talking about a very small group of people who share common struggles, including health care, climate impacts and economic disparities,” he said. “Working together to raise awareness of these issues on the continent can transform our few into a significant voice.”

Villagomez and Servino agreed that defending self-determination was at the heart of their mission.

The United States views Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands as essential to its power position in the region.

Despite this, residents often have no say in federal policy decisions that affect their islands. Similarly, Puerto Ricans frequently advocate for parity in federal programs, particularly Medicare and Medicaid, to close gaps in health care access.

Servino said such issues can only gain traction if territories develop an interterritorial alliance to increase their influence with federal lawmakers.

A central theme throughout the dialogue was the question of how to mobilize diaspora communities.

As residents of territories like Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Puerto Rico increasingly move toward the U.S. mainland, they are gaining voting rights that allow them to influence elections in ways they could not at home.

A unique opportunity

The 2024 elections provide a unique opportunity to engage these diaspora communities and demonstrate their political impact, particularly in swing states where their numbers, although small, could influence close elections.

Servino highlighted the role of grassroots organizing and community outreach, which have been effective in engaging Puerto Rican communities in swing states like Florida and Pennsylvania.

“It’s about raising awareness, especially among new residents of the islands,” he said. “In many cases, these people don’t realize the power of their vote, which is why we’re working to highlight how they can help bring visibility to the issues affecting their families and friends back home.”

Servino and Villagomez see this effort as an ongoing process of education and engagement.

Villagomez, who has focused her organizing work on environmental issues, has observed that many residents of the territories do not feel represented in the broader political structure of the United States.

“Whether you’re CHamoru, Samoan or Puerto Rican, we don’t see ourselves in the narratives that are often presented during election season,” he said. “That’s why we need to start organizing, educating our community about the issues.”

An important aspect of the conversation was the need for territories to reclaim and redefine their own narratives within the American political system.

Villagomez and Servino emphasized the importance of sharing their own history, particularly as it relates to colonization, military occupation and political underrepresentation.

Villagomez said much of what Pacific Islanders know about themselves has been written by outsiders, often resulting in identity and cultural distortions.

He recalled how older generations were discouraged from speaking their native languages ​​and how this cultural suppression continues to affect the identity of the Marianas people.

“There’s a whole generation that didn’t learn their language because their parents were afraid of being punished,” Villagomez said. “And now the younger generation is trying to reclaim that culture. Part of engaging in American politics is knowing where we come from and defining that for ourselves.”

“We must tell our stories”

Servino emphasized that empowering Pacific Island communities in the United States involves recognizing their history and ongoing contributions.

“We need to tell our stories,” he said. “When we talk about military bases or natural resources, these conversations are happening because our islands are valuable to the United States. It’s time we make sure our voices are part of this conversation, too.”

Participants recommended concrete measures to help territories obtain greater representation.

Villagomez and Servino suggested collecting better data on Pacific Island communities and diaspora populations.

“If we had clearer data about our situation and our numbers, it would be much easier to organize and advocate for our needs,” Villagomez said. He noted that current census categories and federal data collection methods often group territories into larger groups, making it difficult to identify and address the specific challenges facing Pacific Islanders.

Another key action point discussed was promoting targeted legislative victories rather than aiming only for broad policy reform.

Servino and Villagomez argued that issues such as Medicaid parity, disaster relief funding and climate adaptation initiatives should be prioritized in dialogues with lawmakers, particularly in swing states where communities Pacific Islanders and the Puerto Rican diaspora hold influence.

“If we can start with targeted, achievable goals, we can build the momentum needed to address larger structural issues over time,” Servino said.

-This article was first published by Pacific Island Times.