Immigrant Teen's Fight Against Feds for Abortion Is Over

An immigrant teen held in federal custody in Texas has had the abortion she had been seeking for a month, overcoming the Trump administration's objection. The American Civil Liberties Union said on Twitter that the 17-year-old had the procedure early Wednesday. Susan Hays, legal director for the Texas group Jane's Due Process, confirmed to the AP that the teen had the procedure. The full US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit had cleared the way Tuesday for the procedure to take place. Wednesday's news came exactly a month after the teen obtained a state court order permitting her to have an abortion.

The teen illegally entered the US in September and learned she was pregnant while in federal custody in Texas. She obtained a state court order permitting an abortion, but federal officials had refused to transport her or temporarily release her so that others could take her for the procedure. Lawyers for the Department of Health and Human Services, which is responsible for sheltering children who illegally enter the country unaccompanied by a parent, said the department has a policy of "refusing to facilitate" abortions and that releasing the teenager would require arranging a transfer of custody and follow-up care. Where the teen will go next remains unclear.

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