Amdt Would Stop Obama’s Funding Abortions for Illegal Immigrants

National   |   Steven Ertelt   |   May 17, 2012   |   6:24PM   |   Washington, DC

An amendment House Republicans added to legislation in Congress would prevent the Obama administration from paying for and arranging abortions for illegal immigrants who are detained by customs officials.

In March, reports showed Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the division of the Department of Homeland Security responsible for enforcing the nation’s immigration laws, was paying for some abortions at taxpayer expense and arranging for the abortions for the illegal immigrants. The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office had approved new rules that gave detainees access to a whole range of services at taxpayers’ expense, including abortion.

Thanks to a House panel on Homeland Security, the taxpayer-funded abortion gravy train may be coming to an end. Yesterday, the Appropriations Committee tacked on an amendment to ICE’s budget that would bar the agency from funding abortion for these immigrants, except in cases of rape, incest, or health of the mother.

Rep. Robert Aderholt, an Alabama Republican, offered the language along with Rep. Bill Huizenga, a Michigan Republican, to ensure taxpayer dollars will not be used to pay for an abortion “or to influence an individual to help in the performance of an abortion.”

Tony Perkins, the president of the Family Research Council, applauded the move.

“We applaud the 28 members who respected taxpayers and the unborn by voting for the amendment,” he said.

When news surfaced in March that ICE was paying for and arranging abortions, CNS News noted the ICE detention operations manual also says that illegal alien detainees who are pregnant will be provided with help not just for an impending delivery but also in obtaining an abortion. It reported:

Abortions will be taxpayer-funded if the life of the mother is deemed to be endangered or the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest, and ICE will arrange transportation to the abortionist at no cost to the detainee.

CNS indicates an Obama administration report says the detention facilities “shall directly or contractually provide its female detainees with access to: 1. pregnancy services including routine or specialized prenatal care, postpartum follow-up, lactation services and abortion services as outlined herein; 2. counseling and assistance for pregnant women in keeping with their express desires in planning for their pregnancy, whether they desire abortion, adoptive services or to keep the child; ….”

The report reads: “2. Abortion Access. In the event continued detention is necessary and appropriate, and consistent with the practice of our federal partners, if the life of the mother would be endangered by carrying a fetus to term, or in the case of rape or incest, ICE will assume the costs associated with a female detainee’s decision to terminate a pregnancy.”

It further states: “a. In this instance, or in a situation where a female detainee opts to fund the termination of her pregnancy, ICE shall arrange for transportation at no cost to the detainee for the medical appointment and, if requested by the detainee, for access to religious counseling, and non-directive (impartial) medical resources and social counseling, to include outside social services or women’s community resource groups.”

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