ABORTION/HHS/IMMIGRATION/LEGAL/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is asking a federal appeals court to reconsider an order that delayed an abortion for an undocumented teenager.
A three-judge appeals court panel on Friday [10-20-17] gave the Trump administration until Oct. 31 to find a sponsor for the girl, who crossed from Mexico to Texas last month and is 15 weeks pregnant. The move would facilitate the abortion without involving the federal Department of Health and Human Services.
In a petition filed Sunday, the ACLU asked the court for an emergency rehearing of the panel’s Friday order.
Government lawyers have argued in federal district and appeals courts that the girl could return to Mexico for an abortion. But the ACLU has argued that this would deny her the chance to remain in the United States and that finding a sponsor could take too long.
Friday’s ruling was unsigned, but two of the three judges announced they would write separate opinions — one concurring, one dissenting. The third is Judge Brett Kavanaugh, an appointee of President George W. Bush and a leading candidate for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Judge orders government to allow abortion for immigrant.”
-Greg Toppo, “ACLU asks federal court to reconsider block on undocumented teen’s abortion,” USA Today, Oct. 23, 2017 05:58am