A small Texas town recently voted against a proposed ordinance to declare itself a Sanctuary City for the Unborn following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022. This decision left individual states to determine their own legal status on abortion, leading Texas to enact one of the strictest abortion bans in the United States. The ban, which does not offer exceptions for rape, incest, or medical needs, goes into effect as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. In response to these measures, cities across Texas have considered and passed ordinances declaring themselves Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn, as part of a strategy by conservative activists to further restrict abortion.
The Clarendon City Council voted 3-0 against the proposed ordinance to declare itself a sanctuary city, with council members citing their belief that state law already covers the issue and that it is not a city matter. The proposed ordinance aimed to prohibit abortion within the city limits and extend the ban to residents of Clarendon regardless of where the procedure is performed. It also sought to restrict the sale and possession of what it termed “abortion-inducing drugs” within the city. Additionally, the ordinance aimed to discourage individuals from traveling through Clarendon to access abortion services, as it sits between Amarillo and the Texas-Oklahoma border, where abortion is legal in New Mexico.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Texas celebrated the vote by the small Texas town against the anti-abortion ordinance, calling it a win for reproductive rights. They emphasized Texans’ desire not to have the government control their bodies. The ruling came as 69 cities across the U.S., including 52 in Texas, have declared themselves Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn. In October, the Lubbock County Commissioners Court passed an ordinance making Lubbock County a Sanctuary County for the Unborn, making it the largest jurisdiction yet to implement restrictions on abortion-related transportation.
Texas pastor Mark Lee Dickson has been pushing communities to outlaw abortion by declaring themselves Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn since 2019. The private enforcement mechanism, which has proven successful in both the Lubbock City Ordinance and the Texas Heartbeat Act, is used to enforce these ordinances. In response to Lubbock’s passed ordinance, Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas expressed concerns that the ordinance adds additional complexity to an already challenging landscape for individuals seeking essential healthcare services. They noted the existing restrictive abortion laws in Texas and criticized anti-abortion extremists for pushing additional barriers to access essential healthcare. Planned Parenthood emphasized the importance of access to healthcare services without unnecessary barriers.
