The Supreme court hears abortion, immigration rules existing from Trump administration
The U.S. Supreme court rejects lawsuits challenging federal regulations existing from Donald Trump’s administration, including impetuous efforts to discontinue fundings to medical centers that refer abortion for patients and a rule designed to limit legal immigration.
Democrats condemned the 2019 abortion referral provision and were criticized as a “gag rule”. Federal appeals court separate views on the rule’s constitutionality.
Supporters say the rule will ensure federal money isn’t used for abortions, while opponents say it would restrict the ability of women to obtain abortion counseling. The decision to take the case may give the new 6-3 conservative majority on the high court its first opportunity to wade into the abortion debate.
The Trump-era rule “is designed to target abortion providers to score political points,” said Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “The gag rule’s harm is felt most by those who have always faced systemic barriers to health care.”
The Supreme Court also announced Monday that it will take up a case about another Trump administration regulation that allows federal officials to deny green cards and visas to immigrants if they believe the recipients will receive public benefits like food stamps, Medicaid, or housing vouchers.
