Lankford, Marshall Seek to Prohibit Taxpayer Funded Abortions for Illegal Immigrants

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Roger Marshall (R-KS) recently introduced the No Taxpayer Funds for Illegal Alien Abortions Act to prohibit any employee or contractor with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) or the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) from transporting any illegal immigrantacross state lines for the purpose of procuring an abortion.

 “In a new low, even for the most pro-abortion President in US history, President Biden apparently only wants pregnant women, including minors, who illegally cross our southern border to be placed in states where they can get an abortion,” said Lankford. “His priority seems to be increasing abortions in America, rather than stopping illegal immigration or protecting the lives of children.”

“No American’s tax dollars should pay for any illegal alien’s abortion, just like they should not pay for any American citizen’s abortion. Deportations are the only form of government-funded travel ICE should be providing to illegal immigrants. Additionally, with a major strain on resources and manpower on the southern border, we should be prioritizing activities performed by ICE and HHS that keep Americans safe,” said Marshall. “We’ve seen President Biden and his cabinet secretaries repeatedly abuse their power to enact a radical agenda that is failing the American people. The deterioration of our country will not stop unless Congress acts to put a check on this far left administration”

Joining Lankford and Marshall as original cosponsors are Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Mike Braun (R-IN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), James Inhofe (R-OK), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

“A massive wave of illegal immigration is providing cover for human smugglers and sex traffickers. We know that thousands of vulnerable women and girls have fallen victim to these criminals, yet the Biden White House has done nothing to stop it. It’s up to Congress to step in. Joe Biden’s taxpayer-funded welcome package already includes a free phone, free plane ticket, and free baby formula – this legislation will stop the administration from adding free abortions to the list,” said Blackburn 

“American taxpayer dollar should never go to fund abortion, and definitely should never be spent on transporting illegal immigrants across state lines for abortions,” said Braun.

“Rather than getting control of the southern border crisis President Biden created, he wants to ship illegal immigrants across the country to get taxpayer funded abortions. This is a gross abuse of Montanans’ taxpayer dollars and should never be allowed,” said Daines. 

“The Biden administration’s willingness to act outside the law makes this legislation necessary.  The Hyde Amendment restricts the use of taxpayer dollars to fund abortions.  Whether it be ICE personnel or any other executive branch employee, spending American tax dollars to escort illegal immigrants across state lines for abortions is a clear violation of the law.  It must be stopped,” said Hyde-Smith.

“The Biden administration continues to push their liberal agenda on hardworking Americans and it has to stop,” said Inhofe. “As if trying to use taxpayer dollars to fund American citizens’ abortions was not enough, the Biden administration now wants to use taxpayer dollars to fund illegal migrants’ abortions. To protect our nation’s integrity and safety, we must ensure that ICE and HHS cannot sponsor transportation for illegal immigrants to obtain an abortion.” 

R. Scott said, “Taxpayers should never be on the hook to pay for abortions, and the thought of forcing Americans to foot the bill for transportation so illegal immigrants can get abortions is horrific. Just when you think that the Biden administration couldn’t get any more radical, it doubles down by pairing its failed open borders policies with its extreme anti-life agenda. I’m proud to join Senator Marshall and our colleagues in introducing this good bill to protect the unborn and prevent this gross misuse of taxpayer dollars.”

“Abortion is wrong, and American taxpayers should never have to pay for it, whether for citizens or illegal immigrants,”said Wicker. “I am proud to stand with my fellow pro-life legislators to protect the sanctity of all human life.”

The bill  has received endorsements from premiere organizations that advocate for pro-life causes, including the Family Research Council and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America.

Background:

Specifically, the No Taxpayer Funds for Illegal Alien Abortions Act would:

• Prohibit any ICE or HHS employee or contractor from transporting any illegal alien across State lines for the purpose of procuring an abortion and;
• Prohibit any funds for ICE or HHS from being used or made available to (1) pay for an abortion, except to save the life of the mother or in case of rape or incest, or (2) require any person to perform or facilitate in any way an abortion.

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