WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 22, 2025) — As the United States pauses to honor fallen servicemembers this Memorial Day, a senior official from the U.S. Virgin Islands is urging Congress to address a longstanding legacy of inequality, what she describes as a Virgin Islands colonial injustice that continues to deny millions of Americans full democratic rights.
Teri Helenese, Director of State-Federal Relations and Washington Representative for the U.S. Virgin Islands, honored the service of U.S. veterans, particularly those from the territories. But she also used the solemn occasion to shine a spotlight on the structural inequities that territorial residents still face due to century-old legal rulings that treat them as second-class citizens.
“They wore the uniform with pride and upheld the very ideals of freedom and democracy, yet they, and the communities they represent, continue to be denied those same freedoms at home,” Helenese stated Thursday.
Senior official denounces Insular Cases as outdated and racist
At the center of Teri Helenese’s remarks are the Insular Cases, a series of Supreme Court decisions from the early 1900s that established a separate and unequal system of governance for U.S. territories. The rulings effectively created a constitutional gray zone, where the rights and protections afforded to mainland citizens do not fully apply to those living in the territories.
The Insular Cases remain legally binding and continue to restrict representation, self-determination, and access to equal federal benefits for more than 3.6 million Americans in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Most of these residents are people of color.
Justice Neil Gorsuch has previously described the doctrine as “American colonialism”, a label Helenese invoked to challenge the contradiction between America’s democratic ideals and its treatment of territorial citizens.
“The United States cannot credibly claim to be a bastion of democracy while millions of its own citizens are denied voting rights, full congressional representation, and equal treatment under federal law,” Helenese said.
Virgin Islanders honor veterans while demanding full democracy
Helenese’s message on Memorial Day underscored the disparity between the sacrifices of Virgin Islands veterans and the rights they are denied in civilian life. Despite serving and dying in U.S. wars, residents of the Virgin Islands cannot vote for president, lack voting representation in Congress, and receive unequal treatment under key federal programs.
“Our veterans fought for democracy abroad. It is time we deliver it at home,” Helenese declared.
She emphasized that honoring veterans must go beyond ceremonial recognition and should include policy reforms that uphold the very freedoms these men and women fought to defend.
Helenese urges Congress to correct historic legal inequities
Helenese continues to lead national advocacy efforts to overturn the Insular Cases and expand full constitutional protections to U.S. territories. Her calls include legislative action to affirm that territorial residents are entitled to equal treatment under the law, and judicial review to reject the racist foundations of the Insular doctrine.
Backed by a growing coalition of civil rights organizations, legal scholars, and political leaders, Helenese argues that the time for justice is long overdue.
“For more than a century, we have tolerated a colonial framework that is fundamentally at odds with American values,” she said. “Congress must act to end this Virgin Islands colonial injustice once and for all.”
About Teri Helenese
Teri Helenese serves as the Director of State-Federal Relations and Washington Representative for the Governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. She is a key figure in advocating for the territory’s interests in the federal arena, working to advance the priorities of Governor Albert Bryan Jr. Her leadership has been instrumental in securing funding and promoting initiatives in education, housing, student support, and economic development.
Her efforts continue to place the Virgin Islands at the forefront of the national conversation on democracy, equity, and territorial justice.
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