Commissioners in rural Cochran County, Texas, have outlawed travel on local roads to seek abortion.
The Texas Tribune, calling it a legally dubious policy, said the commission voted to approve the measure on Thursday.
The county borders New Mexico.
"This ordinance would close some of the loopholes that exist in this fight," said Mark Lee Dickson, a pastor. "It's saying the roads, and the airport, could not be used for abortion trafficking into New Mexico."
The ordinance was introduced by Commissioner Eric Sullivan, who called it a way to stand for "the people who can't speak for themselves."
The new law imposes penalties on those using the county's roads to drive women seeking an abortion.
The Tribune noted, however, that it specifies that under no circumstances should the mother in the scenario be subject to prosecution or penalty. That's similar to a sanctuary city ordinance, where the act would be enforced through private civil lawsuits.
The news outlet reported Cochran County joins a small group of other Texas counties, which have passed similar ordinances.
"This is an effort, one by one by one, to create a statewide ban against travel to other states, literally creating a reproductive prison in the state of Texas," said Wendy Davis, a former state senator who is now a senior adviser at Planned Parenthood Texas Votes.
County Attorney Amanda Martin said the law could spark a lawsuit, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
"Y'all need to understand that's a real possibility that could happen," Martin told commissioners.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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