Commentary

The Trump Administration was handed a set-back in its quest to save the life a preborn baby. After a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld the Administration, a full gathering of judges ruled that HHS must help the illegal immigrant mother obtain an abortion.  An abortion in such a case would involve at least some taxpayer participation.

The full bench of the 10^th Circuit asserted that the teenage mother, in federal custody because she entered the U.S. illegally, is entitled to the full protections of the U.S. Supreme Court’s edicts under Roe v. Wade and Casey.

The mother in question is a teenager, and came to Texas without her parents. And the baby threatened with destruction has already entered the 16^th week of his or her development.  Texas law prohibits abortions after the 20^th week.

Officials at the Department of Justice and Health & Human Services have yet to announce whether they will comply with the ruling of the DC Circuit Court, or appeal directly to the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency stay.