Trafficking Abuse

On September 14, the Snyder, Texas City Council unanimously advanced an ordinance declaring the city a Sanctuary City for the Unborn, which prohibits elective abortions and abortion trafficking within the city and extends enforcement from detectable heartbeat to fertilization. A similar ordinance was considered and tabled by the Jayton City Council, and both ordinances align with a measure previously adopted by Scurry County, featuring private enforcement mechanisms targeting abortion providers and traffickers but not penalizing women seeking abortions.

The City of Snyder, Texas, moved forward with a Sanctuary City for the Unborn ordinance banning abortion and abortion trafficking after a unanimous 6-0 vote on the first reading, with a final vote scheduled for October 5. The ordinance prohibits elective abortions and abortion trafficking within Snyder, extends private enforcement mechanisms, and includes exemptions for medical emergencies and certain fertility treatments, allowing civil actions against violators but not against women seeking abortions.

On September 14, the Jayton, Texas City Council considered an ordinance to outlaw abortion and abortion trafficking, declaring the city a Sanctuary City for the Unborn, but voted 4-1 to table the measure for further review at the next meeting on September 22. If adopted, the ordinance would prohibit elective abortions and abortion trafficking within Jayton, extend enforcement of the Texas Heartbeat Act from detectable heartbeat to fertilization, and ban abortion-inducing drugs and related activities within the city, enforced through private lawsuits against violators but not against mothers.

Andrea Trudden reports that Texas sent cease-and-desist letters to organizations involved in mailing abortion medication. She presents the attorney general's legal position and pregnancy-help advocates' concerns about oversight, coercion, and alternatives.