Op-Ed: As a Scientist and Advocate With 15 Years in the Trenches, I Know the Impact of Denying Latinas Emergency Abortion Care

Just two years ago, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, taking away the constitutional right to an abortion. Now, the Supreme Court could push abortion care even further out of reach. And the impact on Latinas/xs would be devastating.

Since the decision that overturned Roe, 26 states have banned or are poised to ban abortion access. We have seen how deeply people are affected by these bans. These bans fall hardest on Latinas/xs and other communities of color. Our communities often work multiple jobs that provide no sick days or insurance coverage, and we live in under-resourced communities.

There are, of course, some people with the means to do. Some people may travel to another state to get care, while others may be able to self-manage their abortion. But we know there are still many people who can’t travel or otherwise get the care they need and are forced to remain pregnant.

For people without documentation in states like Texas, where U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents set up internal checkpoints along all major routes, traveling to another state for abortion care means risking family separation, detention, and deportation. Meanwhile, clinics in states with access to abortion care are overwhelmed with an influx of patients from other states, which can lead to delays that are keeping people from care.

Access to abortion care may only get worse  

Now we’re waiting to hear the Supreme Court’s decision on a case about whether states can deny pregnant people emergency abortion care. This could mean that patients suffering from emergency pregnancy complications could be turned away from Emergency Rooms.

Denying pregnant people this care means that they could die, suffer significant pain and trauma, or lose the ability to have children in the future.  

Once again, Latinas/xs and other communities of color who visit emergency rooms at disproportionate rates because of systemic barriers to health care will be the most harmed if pregnant people are denied emergency care. Furthermore, the already concerning maternal health crisis in the U.S. will only worsen. 

We hope the Supreme Court will do the right thing and protect care for pregnant patients. Although we know that the fight to ensure that everyone can access abortion care won’t end here. Anti-abortion politicians were never going to stop at overturning Roe. These attacks on abortion will only continue as part of their ultimate goal to ban all abortion nationwide.

Latinas are fired up and fighting back

At the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, we believe that each person has the right to decide if and when to become a parent. When people have the resources, power, and opportunity to make decisions that are best for their lives, families thrive. We build communities where each of us can live with dignity and equality. 

While anti-abortion politicians are rushing to restrict abortion access, people around the country are fired up and fighting back on efforts to take away our freedom to make our own decisions about our bodies and our lives. The majority of people in this country, including Latinas/xs, support access to abortion care. In our work at the Latina Institute, we see that Latinas are standing up for their rights to make decisions for themselves, their families, and their futures.

No matter what the Supreme Court decides, one thing is clear: we won’t stand by while extremists take away our freedoms. At the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, we will continue to organize and build power in Latino/x communities across the country to ensure that everyone has access to the healthcare they need, including abortion care. We will not stop until we create a country with true reproductive freedom for all. 

Join us in sending a message to lawmakers that we will not stop until we create a country with true reproductive freedom for all. Sign up at LatinaInstitute.org or follow us on X, Instagram, and TikTok to get involved.

Lupe M. Rodríguez is the Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice.