El Paso’s only abortion fund service returns after 4-year hiatus

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- West Fund, a non-profit that helps Texans pay and arrange out-of-state healthcare procedures, reopened their doors this month.

The organization is the only abortion fund in El Paso and they've paused operations for four years. Now they are back, what does this mean for El Pasoeans?

West Fund initially halted its financial and logistical assistance operations to protect staff, volunteers, and clients as legal uncertainties mounted over out-of-state travel support.

During that pause, residents in the El Paso region seeking out-of-state care had to navigate transportation, lodging, and medical costs entirely out-of-pocket or rely on broader statewide funds.

While abortion services remain banned in Texas, neighboring states, including nearby clinics in New Mexico—continue to offer legal care. However, the physical proximity of neighboring facilities does not eliminate the financial hurdles for local families, such as gas, time off work, childcare, or travel expenses.

West Fund’s reopening means low-income and working-class El Pasoans will once again have access to direct financial relief, travel coordination, and bilingual grassroots guidance

"People are still legally allowed to get all the information that is publicly available. So, just even looking for information, sometimes people are scared of that, but it is still a person's right to seek information."

Said Catalina Camacho, West Fund's Hotline Manager.

Under the U.S. Constitution, states generally cannot criminalize actions that residents take outside their borders where those actions are legal. West Fund does not facilitate abortions within Texas they support individuals traveling to states like New Mexico, where reproductive healthcare remains legal. Providing information and financial relief for out-of-state travel falls under protected speech and logistical assistance rather than practicing medicine.