E. Scott Lloyd, a pro-life advocate appointed to President Donald Trump’s administration, continues to face heavy criticism for trying to protect minor girls and their unborn babies from the violence of abortion.
Director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement under the Health and Human Services Department, Lloyd is facing bad press from the liberal media for his life-affirming policies. His actions especially drew attention after the ACLU sued on behalf of several pregnant illegal immigrant minors in an effort to force the government to help facilitate their abortions.
The LA Times published a report Thursday slamming Lloyd for trying to prevent one of the illegal immigrant girls — a 17-year-old rape victim – from aborting her unborn baby.
Lloyd said he could not support abortion in her case because an abortion is “violence against an innocent life.” He also pointed out that the girl did not need the abortion for any medical reasons.
Here’s more from the report:
Disclosure of the documents on Thursday revealed a significant escalation of the administration’s efforts to prevent immigrant teenagers in federal detention from getting abortions. In the past, anti-abortion policies have almost always included an exception for rape cases.
“I am convinced that assisting with an abortion in this case is not in her best interest,” Lloyd wrote in a memo about an immigrant minor held in a federal detention center that was released Thursday as part of a court fight over the administration’s policies.
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“I am mindful that abortion is offered by some as a solution to a rape,” Lloyd wrote. “I disagree. To decline to assist in an abortion here is to decline to participate in violence against an innocent life.”
Under Lloyd, the administration has said it will not “facilitate” abortion for unaccompanied minors who are caught and held after crossing the border illegally.
Lloyd continued: “At bottom, this is a question of what is in the interest of the young woman and her child. Here there is no medical reason for abortion, it will not undo or erase the memory of the violence committed against her, and it may traumatize her. I conclude it is not in her interest.”
Despite Lloyd’s efforts to save the girl and her child, the girl aborted her unborn baby after the ACLU won a judgment in her favor, according to the report.
Earlier this year, Lloyd issued a new policy requiring that taxpayer-funded shelters for unaccompanied minor immigrants and refugees offer life-affirming support to girls who are pregnant. The duties of the office including providing basic care, including health care, to unaccompanied immigrant children until they are placed with a family member or sponsor.
Lloyd said the shelters may not take “any action that facilitates” an abortion for unaccompanied minors without his direct approval, and that “grantees should not be supporting abortion services … only pregnancy services and life-affirming options counseling.”
The Trump administration is trying to protect both mother and child by encouraging parenting and adoption, rather than abortion. And pregnancy resource centers provide the much-needed support that young, vulnerable and often frightened young mothers need to realize that they can parent or make an adoption plan.
Most women do not want abortions, but many feel it is their only option. Often, the encouragement and support that pregnancy resource centers provide are just what pregnant moms are longing for most. Lloyd and his office should be applauded, not criticized, for encouraging life-affirming options for the teen moms and unborn babies who cross our borders.
