Help for American women seeking abortion pills is coming from a place some might find surprising — Mexico.
The understanding of abortion as a surgical procedure is common — clinics where they occur are often the front line for protests. But more than half of pregnancy terminations in the U.S. are through pills — a two-step procedure that has become much more widespread over the last 20 years.
The Guttmacher Institute, which favors abortion rights, said that in 2021, more than 100 measures will be introduced in states to restrict medication abortions. But help for American women seeking abortion pills is coming from a place some might find surprising — Mexico. Sandra Cardona is the founder of"Red Necesito Abortar" in Mexico. She said in recent months, she's seen a spike in American and immigrant women reaching out on social media seeking an abortion. Her organization works with other groups in Mexico along the U.S. border to increase access to abortion medication. She said her organization worked it out with networks in the U.S. Cardona's foundation discretely mails abortion pills approved by the FDA to at least three groups in the U.S. who can mail the medication at no cost to women who want them. It also helps women who visit their offices in Mexico. In 2000, the FDA approved mifepristone in the U.S. as part of a regimen with misoprostol. Together, they're an approach to abortion that is considered safe and effective for pregnant women. In the U.S., the care starts at nearly $250, according to online providers, and goes up from there. "I don't want a single woman to be left without a right to make decisions about their body," Cardona said.Rafa Kidvai is with the Repro Legal Defense Fund, a helpline run by a U.S.-based advocacy group called"If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice." "People are concerned more than ever and are reaching out through our Repro Legal helpline," Kidvai said. When asked about the repercussions of getting abortion pills from another country, Kidvai said,"I think those are the exact instances in which people have been criminalized for self-managing their abortions for lack of access." In Texas, sending abortion medication through the mail is a crime, and Kentucky and South Dakota lawmakers also passed bans. In 2014, a mother in Pennsylvania was charged and went to jail for ordering abortion pills online for her teenage daughter. Punishment for ingesting the pills would become a new front in the abortion rights battle, an offense that some activists say may be difficult to prove in court. "There's no real medical way to tell if someone orally ingested abortion medication or had a miscarriage," Kidvai said. The gavel may seal the abortion ruling, but Cordona said her organization will keep its doors open. Newsy is the nation’s only free 24/7 national news network. You can find Newsy using your TV’s digital antenna or stream for free. See all the ways you can watch Newsy here.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pastor expands shelter capacity for asylum seekers in MexicoPastor Silva is helping migrants find asylum at his shelter in Reynosa, Mexico.
Read more »
EXPLAINER: What led to priests being killed in Mexico?Two Jesuit priests and a tour guide murdered in Mexico’s Sierra Tarahumara this week are the latest in a long line of activists, reporters, travelers and local residents who have been threatened or killed by criminal gangs that dominate the region.
Read more »
Many Texans are already seeking abortions in New MexicoTraveling out of state could be the only option for Texans who want abortions. But the cost and logistics may make it an option that’s out of reach for many.
Read more »
8 Bodies Found in Mexico Field Might End Resort Abduction MysteryProsecutors suspect that the bodies may be those of men who were reportedly abducted from a beach town resort last week.
Read more »
After a Two-Year Pause, Mexico City’s Pride March Came Roaring Back in StyleMexico City was once again filled with the colors of the rainbow thanks to Saturday’s LGBT+ Pride March, which returned this year after a two-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read more »
Mass same-sex wedding in Mexico challenges discriminationTheir ability to wed is considered one of the LGBT community’s greatest recent achievements in Mexico. It is now possible in 27 of Mexico’s 32 states and has been twice upheld by the Supreme Court.
Read more »