The local government in a small Texas city on the border with Louisiana has declared itself a “sanctuary city” for the unborn.
The city of Waskom, Texas passed a resolution Tuesday virtually outlawing abortion of any kind within the limits of the city of less than 3,000 people.
“Sanctuary city,” is the official term for American cities that have publicly said they will not cooperate with federal immigration officials looking to find and deport illegal migrants.
The abortion ordinance, which passed unanimously, declares “Roe vs. Wade and other laws permitting abortion ‘to be unconstitutional usurpations of judicial power, which violate both the Tenth Amendment the Republican Form of Government Clause, and are null and void in the City of Waskom,” according to local TV station KETK.
The move was a response to the passage the state of Louisiana’s so-called heartbeat bill, which bans abortion statewide once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Waskom is less than two miles from the Louisiana border. The closest abortion clinic is in Marshall, about 20 miles away.
The city’s attorney warned the city council ordinance is unconstitutional, but city leaders say they intend to be sued over the measure and hope to have their case end up before the Supreme Court.
