Chicago — Attorney General Lisa Madigan and a coalition of 12 attorneys general today issued 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 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 will hear arguments this morning.
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 Garza v. Hargan, 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 Madigan and the other attorneys general legal arguments and ruled against the administration clearing the way for the immigrant woman to obtain an abortion.
