U.S. Department of Justice Promises to Protect Abortion Clinics in Texas

The U.S. Department of Justice promised on Monday to utilize its federal authorities to protect clinics performing abortions in Texas, the southern state that recently enacted a law imposing strict restrictions on voluntary termination of pregnancy. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated in a release that the department "will provide support through the enforcement of federal law when an abortion clinic or reproductive health center is attacked." He added that the department has already "reached out" to attorneys general and field offices of the FBI in Texas to discuss ways to implement this directive. The attorney general emphasized in his statement that the department "will not tolerate any violence against those seeking or providing reproductive health services," nor "damage to property in violation of the FACE Act." The FACE Act (Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances) is a federal law that prohibits any form of violence against the practice of the right to abortion. In addition to the FACE Act, the Biden administration is exploring legal means to challenge the law enacted by Texas that the Supreme Court declined to block. The court's decision dealt a significant blow to advocates for the right to abortion. The law passed by Texas prohibits abortion as soon as a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which is typically available in the sixth week of pregnancy, although most women may not be aware they are pregnant during this time.