With Roe Overturned, We Remain Committed to Protecting the Health and Safety of Immigrant Youth
Washington D.C.— Today, in a violent attack on reproductive autonomy and agency, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to abortion access established under Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey and ruled to uphold Mississippi’s 15-week abortion ban in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The Court’s decision will have dangerous, even deadly, effects on the health and lives of millions nationwide, especially communities of color and immigrants who are disproportionately impacted by restrictions on reproductive health care and face ongoing anti-immigrant hate, xenophobia, racial violence, and criminalization.
Gladis Molina Alt, Executive Director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, said:
“For years, the Young Center has been committed to fighting for the health, safety, and well-being of immigrant youth. That will not change because of today's Supreme Court decision. We know that justice for immigrant youth is inherently tied to the fight for reproductive justice and for a world where all individuals and communities have the economic, social, and political power they need to make decisions about their bodies, families, and lives.
Far too many young immigrants —especially Black, brown, low-income, and LGBTQ+ youth—face significant barriers to accessing the health care they need both while in government custody and after being released, particularly in states where access to reproductive care is severely restricted. Today’s Supreme Court ruling dangerously allows states to further restrict, criminalize, and even outright ban reproductive care, the impact of which will fall more heavily on immigrants who are already disproportionately targeted by law enforcement for deportation.
Like anyone else, immigrant youth deserve to be able to make informed choices about their bodies and their health. This includes not only access to abortion care, free from criminalization and oppression, but also safe, equitable access to all forms of health care. We call on the Biden administration and Congress to take all steps to ensure that all individuals, regardless of immigration status, have access to the health care they need.”
Jane Liu, Senior Litigation Attorney at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, said:
“Everyone, regardless of immigration status, deserves agency over their bodies and access to the resources to live healthy lives. Today’s Supreme Court decision denies these fundamental rights. There is no overstating the life-threatening consequences this decision will have on communities across the country, especially for immigrant communities and communities of color whose safety, rights and access to healthcare are disproportionately threatened by systemic racism, institutional barriers, and restrictive government policies. For undocumented immigrant youth, including pregnant teens, access to health care services is already severely restricted. Without question, our fight to protect immigrant youth includes fighting to ensure they have equitable access to the health care services and support they need, including culturally informed healthcare professionals and language-inclusive resources, that allow them to have the agency over their health and bodies that we all deserve.”
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The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is a non-profit organization that protects and advances the rights and best interests of immigrant children and advocates for an immigration system that treats children as children first. For press inquiries, please contact Anabel Mendoza at media@theyoungcenter.org