N.M. Is NOT Open for Business

The current financial climate weighs heavily on the minds of many. While this headline might appear counterproductive in our state’s struggling economy, we speak of a different kind of business–one that could have a lasting negative impact on New Mexico. 

Banding Together to Stop the Center that Targets Texas and the Borderland

Abortion tourism appears to have been more than a 2022 campaign promise. It could become reality for New Mexico.

 The groundbreaking for a tax-funded abortion facility has already commenced on property that’s located near the corner of Lohman Avenue and Sonoma Ranch Boulevard. In fact, UNM’s Board of Regents gave the green light for the project in a 6 to 1 vote in favor of purchasing this land. 

In order to get the word out about this project, Mark Cavaliere of Southwest Coalition for Life hosted a live Emergency Webcast to Stop the Center on June 27, 2024. The webcast featured guest speakers who informed viewers about how the project got started–under the taxpayers’ radar–and how to stop the construction before it even starts, particularly through petitions and a boycott in the construction sector. As mentioned on the Stop the Center website, “every day of delay is a day they are not harming women or ending innocent lives.” The ultimate goal behind the boycott is to cause as many delays as possible, especially since the governor will be termed out in 2026.

How We Got Here

In short, if it moves forward, this $10M tax-funded abortion facility would be one of the most far-reaching projects New Mexico has ever seen. The center would not only provide abortions but also “gender-affirming care” according to the news report on KFOX 14 on May 20, 2024 that’s linked above. Likewise, this same report mentions that UNM’s medical group would be responsible for staffing and operations. As the governor states, “The goal here is [to] build it and they will come,” referencing those who would need to cross state lines, if not the southern border, to obtain an abortion.

The funding for this project stemmed from Governor Grisham’s executive order, directing the Department of Finance and Administration to “...designate $10 million of the Executive’s capital allocation for the upcoming 2023 legislative session for the purpose of developing a new clinic that provides a full spectrum of patient-centered, community-informed reproductive healthcare, including abortion, in Dona Ana County…” This directive also calls for the Department of Health to “leverage State resources to expand access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion, in underserved areas of the State;” and to assess the feasibility of the provision of medication abortion in public health clinics overseen by the Department…”

 Consequently, the area closest to El Paso, Texas and the southern border would prove to be lucrative for the abortion industry which might be the rationale behind the governor’s choice of location.

How this Project Impacts Chaves County

You might wonder what this has to do with Chaves County which has traditionally been a region known for its Christian, conservative-leaning views. After all, this area is located a good three hours away from the borderland and just as far from Albuquerque. 

In an October update to the Stop the Center project, Elisa Martinez of New Mexico Alliance for Life presented startling information about the Ryan Residency of U.N.M. Basically, this medical residency program is training the next generation to not only perform abortions, during all stages of pregnancy, but also to become activists in their communities who would zealously promote the anti-life cause. 

The fact is that Chaves is NOT IMMUNE to these disturbing actions that were set into motion by the governor’s executive order. Please refer back to the executive order where she calls for the expansion of abortion services in rural communities. As noted, those involved with the U.N.M. Ryan Residency program would staff the mega-center as part of their training in “reproductive healthcare.” From there, they would disseminate to the small towns where abortion facilities had not previously existed. Almost every corner of our county, if not the state, would have “easy access” to abortion on demand.

Keep in mind that parental consent is not required for a minor to get an abortion. Consider the fact that New Mexico has no restrictions regarding to abortion at any stage of pregnancy. And finally, don’t forget that New Mexico, unfortunately, has become a gateway to human trafficking. Such a large-scale center in the borderland, along with widespread access to abortion in the rural areas, would exacerbate this problem. 

So one question remains. Do we sit silently while innocent lives are sacrificed for monetary gain, and women are exploited, OR do we take a stand to promote a boycott that slams the door on abortion tourism?