TEXAS — Nearly 35,000 Texans drove or flew out of state last year to get an abortion. That's more than any other state in the country. A large number went to Colorado and Kansas, and 14,000 went to New Mexico.

What You Need To Know

  • More Texans travel out of state to get an abortion than any other state
  • Anti-abortion advocates are trying to implement what they call abortion trafficking bans in cities around Texas. Legal experts say it’s not a sound argument
  • Even with Texas having one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country, some anti-abortion advocates say the state is still not safe for the unborn

  • The Texas abortion law has narrow exceptions for medical emergencies, and the Texas Medical Board is scheduled to meet Friday to provide more clarification on what qualifies

“The majority of the patients we see are Texans,” said Andrea Gallegos of the Alamo Women’s Clinic.

Gallegos shuttered her San Antonio clinic and opened new ones in New Mexico and Illinois. The move to New Mexico was prompted by Texas passing its six-week abortion ban in 2021.

“And we really started looking into a second location, probably around the time of the leak decision, before the official decision in Dobbs,” said Gallegos.

About 80 to 85% of Gallegos' patients travel from Texas. She says it’s sometimes a daunting experience for patients.

“Pure exhaustion, really, from long journeys from traveling in the car all night, the night before, and sometimes plane rides,” said Gallegos.

The Amarillo City Council recently rejected an ordinance that would outlaw the use of local roads and its airport to access an abortion out of state. A similar ordinance did pass in Lubbock County last October.

“Abortion trafficking is something that I see no different than sex trafficking or human trafficking,” said Mark Lee Dickson, founder of Sanctuary Cities for the Unborn Initiative.

Anti-abortion advocates are trying to implement what they call abortion trafficking bans in cities around Texas. Legal experts say it’s not a sound argument.

“Usually, the motivation for these other forms of trafficking is profit. Whereas it's a little bit difficult to see much abortion travel as being for profit purposes,” said Seth Chandler, a University of Houston professor of law.

Even with Texas having one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country, some anti-abortion advocates say the state is still not safe for the unborn.

“Unborn human beings, they're worthy of protection,” said Dickson.

But providers say nothing will stop their patients from getting abortions.

“Bans don't eliminate the need. And we know many patients will do whatever they need to do to get these services,” said Gallegos.

The Texas abortion law has narrow exceptions for medical emergencies, and the Texas Medical Board is scheduled to meet Friday to provide more clarification on what constitutes an emergency.