A conservative, pro-life group is behind new laws in four counties in Texas and New Mexico that make it illegal for women to travel out of state for an abortion, with the goal of expanding it even further.
Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn is the work of Mark Lee Dickson, director of East Texas Right to Life, and attorney Jonathan Mitchell, the former Texas attorney general who authored the “heartbeat” bill that overturned Roe v . Wade led through the Supreme Court.
Together, they have helped over 60 cities, including over 50 in Texas, ban abortion in those jurisdictions. Goliad County and Mitchell County, Texas, and Lea and Roosevelt Counties, New Mexico have become sanctuary counties.
They are also currently behind legislation that would ban what they call the “abortion trade,” or allow women to leave Texas to get an abortion.
With much of conservative America already banning most abortions, Dickson and Mitchell used the bill to target conservative border towns in states with Democratic legislatures.
Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn is the work of Mark Lee Dickson, director of East Texas Right to Life (pictured left), and attorney Jonathan Mitchell (pictured right), the former Texas attorney general who authored the “Heartbeat” bill, which led to the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court
A conservative pro-life group is behind new laws in four counties in Texas and New Mexico that make it illegal for women to leave the state to get an abortion
According to the Washington Post, Dickson argues that the trade occurs on behalf of the woman carrying the fetus because “the unborn child is always taken against her will.”
His bill would aim to penalize anyone who helps a woman cross state lines to have an abortion by providing a car ride or sponsoring it.
The proposal, backed by 20 Texas lawmakers, would allow a husband to sue a wife’s boyfriend who offered to drive her to an abortion.
The regulation would not penalize the woman seeking an abortion.
Dickson and Mitchell’s latest idea was recently introduced by lawmakers in the Texas town of Llano, which would ban abortion on “streets within city or county limits.”
For example, to get to New Mexico or the more liberal city of Austin, one would have to use state highways that pass through Llano.
The Llano city government introduced the ordinance out of fear of further dividing the city, despite the city council’s strong pro-life stance.
Llano Mayor Marion Bishop supports the measure.
“Is it absolutely necessary? No,” Bishop said. “Does it make a statement?” Yes it does.’
The Roosevelt County Commission in New Mexico voted in January 2023 to adopt an ordinance requiring abortion providers to comply with federal law in the unincorporated portions of the county
The Mitchell County Commission voted in July 2023 to pass an ordinance banning abortion and abortion trafficking
The Goliad County Commission voted Aug. 28 to pass an ordinance banning abortions and abortion trafficking
In December 2022, Lea County, New Mexico voted unanimously to comply with federal abortion law
However, Llano council members voted 4-1 to table the measure at next month’s council meeting.
“I am not pro-abortion and that is my personal belief,” said Councilwoman Kara Gilliland. “But I can’t sit up here and know that there are 3,400 other citizens in this city who don’t necessarily have the same beliefs as me.”
“You can be mad at me if you want,” Councilwoman Laura Almond added. “But I have to sleep with myself at night.”
Dickson expressed his outrage.
“Is this the Austin City Council or is this the conservative Llano City Council?” he asked. “This is far from over.”…Show up in their stores with some signs.’
A local priest said he knew where Almond worked.
He even expressed disappointment at Mayor Bishop’s “symbolic” description of the bill.
“While Llano Mayor Marion Bishop supports the ordinance, she is wrong when she says the measure is not strictly necessary and is largely symbolic,” he tweeted.
Texas is one of twelve states in America where abortion is completely banned
Abortion advocates claim that Dickson and Mitchell are merely stoking fear. Pictured: an abortion rights march in Austin in June 2022
“Abortion trafficking occurs throughout Texas, including on the roads that run through Llano, Texas.”
He pointed to his success in the Texas city of Odessa, where he managed to replace a city council that failed to advance its ordinance within three years.
“Folks, I don’t care if there’s only one person on your city council who wants to pass this,” Dickson told people in another Texas city. “If you have a personal relationship with a council member, reach out to us.”
There is currently a list of 15 cities targeted by Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn on their website, including Naples, Florida; South Lebanon, Ohio; Bellevue, Neb.; Pueblo, Colorado and Bristol, Virginia.
They claim that 12 of the 13 regulations they have submitted to various parliaments are victories.
Abortion advocates claim that Dickson and Mitchell are merely stoking fear.
“The purpose of these laws is not to meaningfully enforce them,” said Neesha Davé, executive director of the Texas-based abortion fund Lilith Fund. “It’s the fear that’s at issue. It’s the confusion that’s at issue.”
So far, all six regulations the group has proposed in the state have passed.