Attorney General Madigan: Federal Government has No Authority to Deny Immigrant Women Abortion Access

Coalition of 13 Attorneys General – Representing Over 110 Million Americans – Vow To Fight to Ensure Women Receive Healthcare

Chicago —(ENEWSPF)—December 19, 2017

By: Rosemary Piser

Attorney General Lisa Madigan joined a coalition of 12 Attorneys General issuing a statement saying the federal government has no authority to block two young immigrant women in federal detention from obtaining abortions.

Late Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed papers in federal court to stop the Administration from preventing the two women from obtaining abortions. Judge Tanya S. Chutkan of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia heard arguments Monday morning and granted the ACLU’s request for a temporary restraining order to prevent the Trump administration from blocking these two young immigrant women from obtaining abortions. The judge however put the ruling on hold for 24 hours to allow the government time to seek a stay from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The Attorneys General said:

“The United States Constitution guarantees all women the right to access an abortion, including unaccompanied minor immigrants. Forcing women to remain pregnant against their will is cruel, inhumane, and entirely illegal. The federal government has no authority to deny these women access to abortion services and we are confident that federal courts will overwhelmingly agree. We will not allow this administration to prey on young and vulnerable women in pursuit of a radical anti-abortion agenda. We will continue to fight alongside our allies to ensure these women receive the justice they deserve.”

Joining Madigan were the Attorneys General of New York, California, Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Vermont, and the District of Columbia – together representing over 110 million Americans.

In October, the coalition of Attorneys General filed an amicus brief with the D.C. Circuit in support of Jane Doe, a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor in federal custody who was seeking an abortion. The D.C. Circuit agreed with the Attorneys General’s legal arguments and ruled against the Administration clearing the way for the immigrant woman to obtain an abortion.

Source: www.illinoisattorneygeneral.gov

Judge Orders Trump Administration to Stop Blocking Abortion for Two Immigrant Women