El Paso clinic halts abortions; Santa Teresa clinic only abortion option in borderland

Legal abortions are no longer performed in El Paso because a new state law requires abortions to take place in a surgical facility. Hilltop Women’s Reproductive Clinic doesn’t meet that standard. For now, women seek abortions are being referred to a clinic in Santa Teresa.

Hilltop remains open for now, offering pap smears and pregnancy tests.
Houston, San Antonio and Dallas are the only Texas cities with abortion clinics that meet the new standard. Hilltop was supposed to stop performing abortions last week, immediately following the ruling on the controversial, H.B 2, by the U.S Court Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, but it didn’t, because of what’s being called a ‘misinterpretation.’ The ruling exempted an El Paso clinic, but it was Reproductive Services, which closed in June, not Hilltop Women’s Reproductive Clinic.

“They were not exempt. From Thursday to Saturday, they performed illegal abortions,” Gerri Laster, former executive director for Reproductive Services of El Paso, said.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, following the ruling, the state confused the two and has since acknowledged the error. Hilltop stopped performing abortions when it received word last weekend.

Now the only option borderland women have left to legally terminate a pregnancy is the Women’s Reproductive Clinic, in Santa Teresa. Regulations in New Mexico and Texas are different. Some argue New Mexico regulations are ‘lax’ when it comes to abortions. Sonographer Monica Barba with the House of Hope in El Paso, agrees. She shared a number of her concerns regarding the difference in regulations in Texas an New Mexico.

“They will not have a 24 hour waiting period where they’re making decisions on emotions…We also have an ultrasound law here in Texas …access to emergency vehicles if necessary,” Barba said.

Women’s Reproductive is now the closest option for El Paso women. Hilltop remains open, but only offers pap smears and pregnancy tests.

In an email from the Texas Department of State Health Services, consequences against Hilltop have ‘yet to be determined.’