Texas counties trying to prevent people from using roads to get an abortion grows

32

The Texas county near New Mexico, where abortion remains legal, has implemented a novel approach in the ongoing efforts to restrict abortion access. Lubbock County, the largest among four Texas counties, has adopted a measure aimed at deterring individuals from assisting those traveling to obtain an abortion. This strategy mirrors the legal mechanism employed by Texas in 2021 to enforce a stringent abortion law, a move upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, effectively prohibiting nearly all abortions within the state.

In a unanimous decision by the county commissioners, Lubbock County approved this measure during a meeting held on Monday, despite some requests for a postponement. The ordinance introduces a legal framework for private citizens to file lawsuits against individuals who aid women in obtaining abortions. Lubbock County Judge Curtis Parrish, the county’s highest-ranking elected official, has defended the ordinance’s intent, acknowledging its legal challenges.

These measures build upon city ordinances that were initiated in rural Texas municipalities back in 2019. These city-level ordinances sought to ban abortion within their jurisdictions, even if they lacked clinics that performed abortions. Critics have argued that this campaign is an attempt to intimidate women from seeking abortions in places where the procedure remains legally permissible.

Mark Lee Dickson, a Texas pastor who has been at the forefront of these efforts, expressed his support for the vote. He aspires to see a day when abortion is universally considered morally, socially, and politically wrong, leading to its prohibition across all states.

Notably, there have been no reported violations of the travel prohibition in counties with similar measures already in place. These measures do not penalize women seeking abortion but rather expose individuals who aid in transporting them for the procedure to legal risks.

Legal experts have raised questions about the enforceability of these ordinances, considering them largely untested in practice. Seema Mohapatra, a health law expert and law professor at Southern Methodist University, described this situation as a “case of first impression.”

The Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office has refrained from commenting on the ban or its implementation.

Lubbock County, with a population of approximately 317,000 residents, significantly surpasses the populations of the other three Texas counties—Mitchell, Goliad, and Cochran—that have recently enacted similar ordinances, each of which has fewer than 10,000 residents. Lubbock County’s highways provide a direct route to New Mexico, a state known for its permissive abortion laws in the U.S.

It is important to note that this ban does not extend to cities within Lubbock County, including the city of Lubbock itself, which boasts around 264,000 residents. The city of Lubbock had previously adopted a comparable measure in 2021.

Autumn Keiser, spokesperson for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, criticized these developments, characterizing them as additional burdens on essential healthcare in a state that already imposes some of the most restrictive abortion bans in the nation.

Texas is among the 13 states that prohibit abortion at all stages of pregnancy. In August, a Texas judge ruled that the state’s ban was overly restrictive for women facing pregnancy complications. However, this ruling was swiftly halted following a state appeal.

Notably, the Texas law was enacted prior to the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 2022 ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, which had previously guaranteed the right to abortion nationwide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Abortion Restrictions

More about Abortion Restrictions

• Texas Abortion Law
• Roe v. Wade
• Legal Challenges to Texas Abortion Law
• Lubbock County
• Abortion Rights in Texas
• U.S. Supreme Court Abortion Ruling