WithRoe v. WadeOverturned, abortion providers flock to New Mexico, one the largest southwestern states that allows abortion access.
So-called “crisis pregnancy centers” are following their lead. One of these centers will now open across the street from the Las Cruces Women’s Health Clinic, a reincarnation of the Mississippi clinic at the center of the Supreme Court case that reversed Roe.
The majority of crisis pregnancy centers are non-medical, and they aim to discourage people getting abortions. Often, they’re located near abortion clinics and get patients in the door by offering free ultrasounds. While visiting, pregnant people are often given inaccurate information about abortion or its availability — such as false claims that abortions could cause breast cancer or mental health issues, or wrong suggestions that they are too late in pregnancy for an abortion.
Southwest Coalition for Life, a religiously affiliated anti-abortion organization, is working to open a crisis pregnancy center in Las Cruces, New Mexico, the organization’s CEO Mark Cavaliere announced at a rally Tuesday night. In a press release, Southwest Coalition for Life characterized the center as an entity “that will directly impact” the new abortion clinic’s “business potential.”
It is unclear when the crisis pregnancy center or Las Cruces Women’s Health will open. Cavaliere and others spoke at the rally Tuesday to emphasize the urgency of setting up crisis pregnancies centers, as abortion clinics from neighboring States relocate to New Mexico and Las Cruces Women’s Health, which is only 20 minutes from Texas border.
“This has become the epicenter of post-Roe America,” Cavaliere said.
Since September, when Texas enforced its six-week abortion ban in Texas, abortion seekers have been flocking to New Mexico-based providers. This trend has only increased since June 24, when it was first announced. Roe was overturned and abortion became illegal in many of New Mexico’s neighboring states. The wait times for appointments in New Mexico are now three to four week. Clinicians say that more states are enforcing stricter bans. not preparedto meet the growing demand. That proximity to states with abortion bans, combined with the swell of out-of-state patients, has driven Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the now-closed clinic at the heart of the landmark case overturning RoeTo reopen in New Mexico. Planned Parenthood also workingIt is a good place to be.
“Las Cruces is one of the flashpoints, it seems,” said Alisa Von Hagel, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Superior who studies crisis pregnancy centers. “With the introduction of new [abortion] facilities, it’s almost like clockwork that a crisis pregnancy center would set up across the street or next door in order to attempt to bring women in who are contemplating abortions, or women who do want an abortion but aren’t aware of the differences.”
Even beforeRoe v. WadeCrisis pregnancy centers outnumbered abortion providers by 3 to 1 after the ruling was overturned. But now abortions are heavily restricted or banned in 10 statesThe importance of crisis pregnancy centers is increasing. Southwest Coalition for Life’s building won’t be the first crisis pregnancy center in the city. People traveling to the border town for an abortion could find it confusing because of the different establishments. Because crisis pregnancy centers often look similar to medical facilities, people could end up in the wrong place, miss an appointment, or receive incorrect medical information.
“If you are unfamiliar with where you are going and under a stressful condition — you may have children with you, there’s a million and five factors that make this particular endeavor to try to obtain an abortion that much more difficult — and then you have these facilities, its almost a perfect storm for trying to siphon off women who want to go to the abortion clinics,” Von Hagel said.
Crisis pregnancy centers have existed for a long time been criticizedPhysicians and medical professionals note that they are often marketed as medical clinics to patients, even though the majority of staff, according the anti-abortion think Tank the Charlotte Lozier Institute. are not health professionals. Many of these centers do not have any staff who are medical professionals.
Crisis pregnancy centers are not registered as medical clinics so they are not subject to the same regulation as abortion clinics. Even though there are many, offer free ultrasoundsPatients mistakenly believe they have more time to have an abortion or that they are not eligible.
Some centers offer diapers and classes for parents who are religiously affiliated. They are not there to encourage visitors to seek abortions. come under scrutinyFor giving inaccurate information to pregnant women about the possible health consequences of ending their pregnancy.
The argument of lawmakers who oppose abortion is that centers in states that restrict or ban abortion could provide support for women who are pregnant unplanned. Republican leaders invited crisis pregnancy center leadersTo testify before CongressIn the weeks following Roe’s overturn.
But the support these centers offer pregnant people — though it varies from center to center — usually does not last beyond the first year after pregnancy at most. It does not provide long-term support for parenting or economic support like child care, job placement, or help finding an apartment. Research has shown that abortion seekers who do not receive one are subjected to the following: lifelong economic penalties. According to the landmark Turnaway study almost 3 out 4 people denied abortions lived in poverty, compared to just over half of those who were allowed one.
Las Cruces has gained particular attention because of its proximity to Texas, and because of the arrival of Jackson Women’s Health Organization. It is not the only place that is set to be a destination for women seeking abortions and new clinics opening. Von Hagel stated that similar openings are expected in other cities due to the arrival of a crisis pregnancy centre in this city.
“This is something that is the tip of the iceberg,” she said.
