Texas town outlaws abortion, says it's the state's first 'sanctuary city for the unborn'

The Waskom council unanimously approved the anti-abortion
measures Tuesday. (Photo by Right to Life of East Texas)

There is no abortion clinic in Waskom, Texas, pop. 2,189, but locals wanted to make sure it stays that way. So on Tuesday the five-member City Council unanimously voted to become Texas' first "sanctuary city for the unborn." It could be the first of many, and not just in Texas.

Right to Life of East Texas approached Waskom residents and the council with an ordinance and resolution criminalizing abortion, Robin Richardson reports for the Longview News-Journal.

Waskom, Texas (Wikipedia map)

"Right to Life approached us because the abortion laws are changing in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi that the abortion clinics may start moving to Texas," Mayor Jesse Moore told Richardson. "With Waskom being the first city, 18 miles [west] from [Shreveport] Louisiana, they were anticipating one moving over here."

Waskom's new ordinance doubles down on recently passed state legislation that bars Texas cities and counties from doing some kinds of business with abortion providers. The law, which will take effect on Sept. 1, "specifically prevents local governments from entering into reduced tax and lease agreements with such organizations," Richardson reports. "It also prevents cities and counties from 'advocacy or lobbying on behalf of the interests of an abortion provider or affiliate.' It does not impact hospitals or doctor’s offices that perform fewer than 50 abortions a year."