On Friday June 24th, the Supreme Court issued a ruling overturning
Roe vs Wade, effectively ending the right to an abortion.
While this ruling doesn't directly affect immigration law,
it does affect immigrants and could significantly impact
the potential for immigration reform in the future.
So in this video, we are going to take a look
at how this polarizing ruling could affect your immigration case
and what it could mean
for future elections as frustrated voters are driven to the polls.
And if this is your first time on my channel, be sure to subscribe
and turn on the notifications for regular immigration news updates.
If you would like my help on your case, call our office to schedule a case
evaluation at 212-248-7907.
The question many immigrants are now wondering is if getting an abortion
will hurt their immigration case now that it could potentially be illegal.
If you live in a state where abortion is protected,
it should have no impact on your case at all.
Currently, 16 states and the District of Columbia
have laws that protect the right to an abortion.
And some states, such as New York, California, Oregon, and Connecticut,
which are led by Democrats, are going one step further to pass laws
strengthening protections for those who travel from out of state to access care.
States such as New York and Washington even have laws that specifically protects
access for undocumented immigrants as well as out-of-state patients.
But what if they live in a state that has now banned abortion?
Since Roe was overturned, nearly half of the states
now have laws that can be used to ban or restrict abortion.
Some of these are being challenged in the courts and others have waiting periods
until they go into effect, o
the effectiveness of these laws right now is uncertain and rapidly changing.
There are also Republican led state lawmakers who are working to pass
anti-abortion laws in some states, including Arizona, Nebraska and Virginia.
Overall, it is estimated that abortion could be banned
in as many as 60% of states in the next year.
If you live in one of these states, the likelihood of an abortion affecting
your immigration case will also depend on how the laws are written for your state.
Currently, most bans aim to restrict access by making it illegal
for health care providers to deliver this type of reproductive care.
However, with the rise of at home medications for abortions
and the ability to travel out of state, some states are writing laws
that actually criminalize the mother for seeking to induce an abortion.
Qhile some states are doing this with civil penalties, others are enacting
felony criminal charges, which would definitely hurt
your immigration case depending on how that law is written.
Many also fear
that these laws will disproportionately affect immigrants and women of color.
Statistics show that women of color are more likely to seek abortion care
because of financial status, lack of access to health care, and fear
of poor outcomes—as they have higher maternal mortality rates.
And women who have an uncertain immigration status
could also seek abortion care due to fear of being separated from
or deported with their child.
What does this decision by the Supreme Court mean for upcoming elections?
As we have discussed in my previous video,
the midterms were not looking good for Democrats, but this decision
could energize Democratic voters to turn out in record numbers.
Support for abortion rights is at an all time high.
A Gallup poll in May found more Americans identified as pro-choice
than at any other point since the mid 1990s,
and when broken down by political party, support among Democrats
has risen by nearly 20 points since then, with 80% now saying
abortion should be legal in most cases.
Since the Supreme Court's decision was announced,
protests have broken out across the country, with people
taking to the streets in New York, L.A., Phenix and even Salt Lake City.
But will this translates to votes in future elections?
Biden has already come out saying Roe and personal freedoms
are on the ballot, and many Democratic candidates
are already positioning their campaigns as parts of a larger battle
to restore abortion rights and prevent the rollback of other liberties.
Senate Democrats saw a significant spike in grassroots
fundraising immediately following the Supreme Court ruling making
for the best day of online fundraising to date this cycle.
However, there has also been pushed back by people who are frustrated
that Democrats are using this as an opportunity to fundraise,
pointing to the lack of action when in a position of power.
A poll by NPR found that 70% of Democrats say the court's decision
makes them more likely to vote this fall—24 points higher than Republicans.
But what people say and what they do can often be different things,
which is why Republicans have said they will continue to focus
their messaging on the economy, inflation, immigration and rising crime.
What do you think?
Will the decision by the Supreme Court make it even more difficult for immigrants
to come to the US?
And will this polarizing ruling help Democrats win votes in future elections?
Remember, immigration and politics are very, very intertwined.
Leave me a comment and let me know.
And if you want to hear more about the upcoming midterm elections
and how they will affect immigration reform, I'll include a link to that video
here.
I will also continue
to bring you additional immigration news as it's available.
So be sure to subscribe and turn on the notifications if you haven't done so yet.
Click here to watch this video and I'll see you there.