After the 1898 United States invasion of Puerto Rico, Santos as a handmade craft somewhat reduced in popularity, as Protestant missionaries called for converts to dispose of and destroy the figures, and general modernizations on the island led to a reduced interest in this long-standing tradition. As a result, plastic, mass-produced statuettes of Catholic figures have become more popular as an alternative to traditional Santos craftsmanship.
The 1898 U.S. invasion of Puerto Rico and the subsequent decline of handmade Santos figurines are linked to factors like missionary efforts and modernization on the island, which led to a shift in popularity towards mass-produced plastic statues.