Pro-lifers accuse ACLU of using illegal immigrant minors as 'political pawns' in abortion debate

Pro-life advocates have accused the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of using illegal immigrant minors as "political pawns" in an attempt to make the United States a "sanctuary nation for abortion."

The ACLU has filed several lawsuits against the federal government in the past few months on behalf of illegal immigrant teenagers who wanted to obtain abortions in the U.S.

Chuck Donovan, president of the pro-life research group the Charlotte Lozier Institute, expressed concern that the teenagers are being used "as political pawns to push a larger agenda of making the United States a sanctuary nation for abortion."

Last October, the Trump administration reversed an Obama-era policy that allowed pregnant undocumented minors to obtain abortions, arguing that there was "no constitutional right for a pregnant minor to illegally cross the U.S. border and get an elective abortion while in federal custody."

The ACLU had recently filed a lawsuit against the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement in an effort to force the department to abandon the new policy and allow all undocumented minors to obtain abortions.

"Their claims are radical and extremely dubious. There is no consensus that there is a so-called 'constitutional right' to abortion, even for American citizens, let alone pregnant teens who come into this country illegally," Donovan said in an interview with The Christian Post.

"As controversial as Roe v. Wade has been, it has never been interpreted this way. We believe HHS has a strong case that will likely go all the way to the Supreme Court," he added.

Four undocumented teenagers — identified only in court documents as "Jane Doe," "Jane Roe," "Jane Poe," and "Jane Moe" — have filed complaints against the government with the help of the ACLU.

In the latest case, the government decided to release Moe into the custody of a sponsor earlier this month in an apparent attempt to avoid the legal battle.

Doe was able to get an abortion in late October, while Roe and Poe obtained the procedure in November.

The Justice Department had filed a petition to the Supreme Court in November, claiming that ACLU lawyers had promised to keep it informed about the date of the procedure, but changed the schedule at an earlier date before the administration could file an appeal.

Donovan noted that the releases do not indicate a change in policy, noting that the minors have found sponsors and are no longer in the custody of the Office of Refugee Resettlement

He further explained that placing unaccompanied minors in the custody of a sponsor has always been the priority of the HHS, and a medical decision will be handled by the sponsor once the child leaves the direct custody of the government.

"The Trump administration still strongly opposes facilitating abortions for young girls in their care, out of compassion for both them and their unborn children," Donovan said.