The city of Amarillo in Texas has become a focal point in the ongoing abortion debate, with recent legislation in Texas forbidding abortion from the point of conception. Activists argue that Amarillo has now emerged as a hub, facilitating access to abortion in states such as New Mexico, Colorado, and Kansas where laws are less stringent. This development has led to an initiative to put the matter to a vote in the forthcoming November ballot.
Observers have expressed surprise at the number of Texans venturing out of state to seek abortions. Amy Hagstrom Miller, an abortion provider from New Mexico, reported that the majority of her appointments are made by Texas residents. Similarly, Alan Braid of the Alamo Women’s Clinic claimed that approximately 85% of his clientele comes from Texas.
This trend extends to other states as well. In Colorado, nearly half of Leroy Carhart IV’s patients at CARE Colorado hail from Texas. Kansas also has seen an influx, with around half of all patients at the state’s Planned Parenthood clinics reported to be from Texas.
The proposal would make it illegal to assist a resident of Amarillo to procure an abortion, render it unlawful to transport an individual to obtain an abortion, and ban the manufacture, possession, and use of abortion-inducing drugs within the city’s limits.