In the United States, Illinois becomes a priority destination for women who want an abortion – rts.ch

The Supreme Court’s decision on voluntary termination of pregnancy (abortion) has divided the American territory between Republican and Democratic states. Like California, Illinois is emerging as a safe haven state for women.

Illinois looks more and more like an island, surrounded by states that have passed laws to restrict access to abortion (Wisconsin, Missouri, Kentucky) and states with a Republican majority that are preparing to legislate to go in the same direction (Iowa and Indiana). He is thus called upon to play a central role for women in the Midwest who want to have an abortion.

The trend is not new. Faced with the difficulties encountered in the neighboring states, the women had already got into the habit of traveling to Chicago or other cities in this democratic state. Illinois recorded 46,000 abortions in 2020, including 21% of women from other states. But specialists expect an explosion in demand.

Phone calls to clinics have doubled

Sadia Hauder, physician at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago

Already more patients

“In the week following the Supreme Court’s decision, calls to clinics doubled,” said Sadia Hauder, a physician at Rush University Medical Center.

“The number of patients has already increased,” she adds. This specialist operates in a university hospital which takes care of more complex cases. She is linked to Planned Parenthood clinics which are already seeing an influx: “There are patients from Georgia or Mississippi, for whom we are the closest destination by plane or even by car.”

Illinois, a safe haven state in the Midwest for the right to abortion. [Pat Nabong – Keystone/AP]Political reaction

Chicago’s Democratic mayor recently promised that the city would remain “an oasis” for women in the Midwest. The state governor, also a Democrat, has promised to convene a special session of the Assembly to consider new laws in favor of abortion.

“We’ve been laying the groundwork for years because we knew this situation was likely to arise,” said Emily Werth, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. “We have very good laws at the state level, but now we have to make sure that there are enough resources so that care is accessible to everyone.”

Additional means

Several projects for new clinics are being studied to meet demand. And the existing structures plan to take over some of the medical personnel from neighboring states who can no longer practice. Groups also raise funds to help women travel, such as the Midwest Access Coalition or the Chicago Abortion Fund.

In the camp of anti-abortion activists, the pill goes badly. Eric Scheidler runs the Pro-Life Action League. “We celebrate the Supreme Court’s decision, but in reality, in Illinois, this decision really complicates the situation for us. I am horrified at the thought of Illinois becoming a destination for abortions and that developing here abortion tourism,” he says.

Gaspard Kuehn