Texas bishops criticize the ACLU’s support for teen immigrant’s quest to get an abortion.
The 17-year-old from Central America is under federal custody in a shelter in Brownsville. She entered the United States in September and is in her 15th week of pregnancy. Texas bans most abortions after 20 weeks.
A White House statement said the Trump administration “stands ready to expedite her return to her home country.” Federal officials have said the teenager could voluntarily leave the country or find a sponsor in the United States to take custody of her.
The ACLU argues that under the 1973 Supreme Court ruling in Roe v. Wade, the immigrant teenager is entitled to have an abortion that she would pay for.
The Texas bishops said the ACLU’s case – “compelling others to perform, facilitate or pay for abortion who do not wish to do so” – is unconscionable. “No one – the government, private individuals or organizations – should be forced to be complicit in abortion,” they said.