Puerto Rico Makes History: Unborn Babies Now Legally Recognized as Human Beings
Puerto Rico Governor Signs Landmark Law Amending Penal Code to Protect the Unborn
Puerto Rico has taken a monumental stand for the sanctity of life. On February 13, Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon signed Senate Bill 923 into law, officially amending the island's penal code to recognize unborn babies as human beings in murder cases. The legislation, known as the Keishla Madlane Law, is named after Keishla Madlane Rodriguez Ortiz, a young woman who was brutally murdered along with her unborn child in 2021 by former boxer Felix Verdejo Sanchez.
This law ensures that anyone who kills an unborn child will face the full weight of murder charges. It builds upon a previous measure, SB 504, signed in December 2025, which amended Puerto Rico's Civil Code to recognize conceived children from conception onward as legal persons with rights to inheritance and property.
Pro Life Leaders Celebrate a Historic Win for Moms and Babies
SBA Pro Life America called the signing "a powerful example and a win for moms and babies." Kristan Hawkins of Students for Life of America declared boldly: "Life begins at conception!" Governor Gonzalez Colon stated that the legislation maintains "coherence between civil and criminal provisions," ensuring that the law fully protects the unborn.
While some medical professionals, including Dr. Carlos Diaz Velez of Puerto Rico's College of Medical Surgeons, have raised concerns about clinical implications, the overwhelming response from pro life advocates has been one of triumph and gratitude. Puerto Rico now stands as a beacon of hope in the fight to protect every innocent life from the moment of conception.
The Crusader's Opinion
This is what courage looks like. While mainland politicians cower before the abortion lobby, Puerto Rico has drawn a line in the sand: unborn children are human beings, and killing them is murder. Period. The double standard is staggering. The same voices that demand "justice" for every cause under the sun fall silent when it comes to the most vulnerable among us. Governor Gonzalez Colon and the legislators who backed this bill deserve praise for standing firm on the truth that every life, born or unborn, is sacred. May every state and territory follow Puerto Rico's example.
Take Action
- Share this article on social media to spread the word about Puerto Rico's historic pro life victory.
- Contact your local representatives and urge them to support similar legislation recognizing unborn children as legal persons.
- Support SBA Pro Life America in their mission to protect the unborn through legislation.
- Donate to Students for Life of America to empower the next generation of pro life advocates.
- Pray for the continued expansion of legal protections for unborn babies across the United States and its territories.
