Critics have accused the US government of transferring pregnant unaccompanied immigrant minors, many of whom are victims of rape, to a single facility in Texas in order to prevent them from accessing abortion services. The move, described as a human rights violation, has raised concerns about reproductive healthcare in immigration detention.
Since July, more than a dozen pregnant children as young as 13 have been moved to a facility in San Benito, Texas, where abortion is banned in nearly all circumstances, including rape and incest. About half of these pregnancies are the result of sexual assault, according to a joint investigation by the Texas Newsroom and the California Newsroom.
Jonathan White, a former top official with the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) under the Obama and Trump administrations, said the relocation effectively ensures that no abortions occur without federal officials needing to deny them. “It’s a choice to ensure zero abortions,” he said. White described forcing these girls to carry pregnancies to term as “an extraordinary human rights problem.”
Diana Romero, a professor at the City University of New York, called the policy a “dramatic violation” of international law and public health practices. She noted that forcing individuals to continue pregnancies against their will is “egregious,” and that moving them to states with restrictive laws adds another layer of concern.
The ORR, part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is now directed by a career immigration official. HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard denied the allegations, stating that the agency remains committed to the safety and well-being of children in its custody. However, critics argue that the Flores settlement agreement, which guarantees comprehensive reproductive health services to detained minors, is being violated.
