A Texas-Sized Problem: Abortion Policy And Public Perception On The Border

The present study is an examination of the impacts Texas' abortion restrictions have had on residents of El Paso, Texas. As of 2022, virtually all instances of abortion are illegal in the state of Texas. Despite the complete overturn of Roe V. Wade, in addition to Texas' passage of the "Texas Heartbeat Act", lawmakers have continued to propose and enact laws that encourage the intimidation, investigation, and punishment of anyone suspected of aiding and abetting an abortion, regardless of whether it occurred outside of state lines. These policies are ever-changing and impact millions of Texans, whether they know it or not. As the largest, westernmost city in Texas, El Paso's unique proximity to Mexico and New Mexico has created a new type of "in-between" space, one in which El Pasoans are impacted by changing laws in Texas, yet can find themselves in a new state, or country with entirely different abortion policies in a matter of minutes. Bearing in mind that these three places hold dramatically different abortion-related policies, findings reveal how El Pasoans make sense of changing laws, where they turn to for help, and the consequences it has for their everyday lives. By utilizing theories of reproductive justice, border theory, as well as frameworks incepted by leading Chicana feminist scholars in the communication field, this project documents the direct experiences of El Pasoans impacted by Texas' abortion restrictions and sheds light on a community that holds great significance to the conversation surrounding reproductive justice in Texas.