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American women are crossing the border into Mexico for reproductive healthcare services following theSupreme Court’s decision to overturn 1973’sRoe v. Wadeand end the right to abortion.
Verónica Cruz is the founder of Las Libres, a feminist organization dedicated to defending women’s rights and helping women access abortions. She toldCNNthats she’s received numerous frantic calls from women throughout the United States after abortion clinics canceled their appointments.
“As soon as the Supreme Court decision came out, they were left without service. There are many people who call us crying, very desperate,” Cruz told the outlet. “And the majority don’t even speak Spanish.”
“It surprised me that Mexico is going forward, and the United States is going backward,” she added, noting that abortion was only decriminalized in Mexico in September 2021. “I never imagined that.”
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“We aren’t afraid,” said Cruz. “We are willing to face criminalization, because women’s lives matter more than their law.”
Luisa Garcia, director ofProfem, one of Mexico’s largest abortion providers, said Americans make up about 25% of all patients at their Tijuana clinic and in recent months, numbers have skyrocketed as more American women call in, specifically in Texas and Arizona where"trigger" lawson abortion have been enacted.
“We are expanding abortion services here in Mexico,” Garcia toldKPBS. “It feels strange that in the United States, they are reducing them.”
RELATED VIDEO: House of Representatives Passes Bills to Protect Access to Abortion After Roe v. Wade Is Overturned
Last week, the House of Representatives passed two bills that would protect nationwide access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion, in response to the overturn ofRoe.
One bill, the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act — which passed 223-205 — would protect a patient’s right to travel across state lines for abortion services. Another bill, the Women’s Health Protection Act — which passed 219-210 — would allow healthcare workers the right to provide abortion services and patients the right to obtain them, regardless of several state bans.
Earlier this month,President Joe Bidenalso signed an executive order vowing to “ensure the safety of patients, providers, and third parties” who have abortions or provide abortion services.
The order called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to submit a report in 30 days detailing steps to take that can protect medication abortion, expand access to emergency contraceptives, and increase education about reproductive healthcare services.
source: people.com
