Norton Says Trump Administration’s Delay of an Abortion for Unaccompanied Minor Denies Her Constitutional Right and Jeopardizes Her Health

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) released the following statement after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia yesterday issued a ruling allowing the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to delay a 17-year-old unaccompanied minor, who is 15 weeks pregnant and being held in a government shelter in Texas under HHS supervision, from having an abortion she desires. The court allowed HHS until October 31 to find a "sponsor" for the young woman. The administration appealed after the District Court here ruled in her favor.

"The Trump administration is jeopardizing a young woman's health for political reasons in violation of her constitutional right to an abortion. The Constitution not only protects a woman's right to have an abortion, but the Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be undue burdens placed on that right. This young woman has already met all the necessary steps required in Texas for an abortion, and she has been appointed a guardian who is willing to go with her to the session. It is an unprecedented outrage to delay this young woman's right to an abortion after she has met all the requirements. The decision permitting 10 additional days of an unwanted pregnancy puts the federal government in the position of blocking an abortion that no court has found to be unlawful. The only appropriate course is for HHS to drop its appeal."