A small county in West Texas has become the first in the state to declare itself a “sanctuary for unborn children” by a unanimous vote.
Mitchell County’s Commissioners Court, which represents roughly 9,000 residents, recently voted 4-0 to establish additional restrictions on abortions.
Mark Dickson, the director of Right to Life East Texas and leader of the Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn movement, explained on Facebook that the ordinance not only prohibits abortion in the unincorporated areas within the county but also “prohibits the performing of elective abortions and the aiding or abetting of abortions performed on residents.”
Furthermore, “The ordinance prohibits abortion-inducing drugs within the unincorporated area of Mitchell County and prohibits abortion trafficking by making it unlawful ‘for any person to knowingly transport any individual for the purpose of providing or obtaining an elective abortion.’”
Commissioner Jeremy Strain said, “What a monumental day for Mitchell County. I’m so excited that we get to lead the way for the state of Texas.”
“We stand and fight for the unborn, the ones who can’t fight for themselves,” he continued. “I hope and pray other counties throughout the state will jump on board and lead by doing the same.”
Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), who represents a different part of West Texas, similarly said, “I am proud that Mitchell County is the first county to declare itself a sanctuary for the unborn. This is a huge victory for the pro-life movement in Texas.”
“Thank you to all the grassroots advocates who worked tirelessly to make this a reality, and for the commissioners who showed political courage to vote this into law,” he added.
According to the organization Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn, Mitchell County’s ordinance means that 76 cities and three counties in the U.S. have made their designation as such sanctuaries official.
In Texas, abortion is virtually illegal except in very narrow circumstances. Following the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, a trigger law went into effect that bans the practice in most cases, as reported by The Dallas Express.
Supporters of abortion have attempted to circumvent Texas laws by providing money for travel to women seeking the procedure.
One such group, Fund Texas Choice, has sued to be able to continue doing so, scoring victories in federal courts earlier this year.
“This win is not just for Fund Texas Choice or the other plaintiffs, but rather, for thousands of Texans who may now be able to access the abortions they deserve and need,” the group said. “That is why … we are still fighting to ensure that access to travel and funding are available for abortion seekers across the entire state.”
“In this hostile landscape, practical support and abortion funds have been eager to provide crucial support to their communities by helping pay for abortions, transportation, lodging, childcare and more,” Fund Texas Choice continued.
“No one should be prevented from accessing abortion care because of where they live or how much money they have, and this preliminary injunction reinstates our capacity to legally support abortion seekers when they are traveling out of state.”