1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

The Office of Refugee Resettlement must immediately stop transferring all pregnant unaccompanied immigrant children to a single facility in San Benito, Texas. This policy exists for one purpose: to ensure these girls cannot access abortion services by keeping them in a state where abortion is banned even in cases of rape and incest. Since July, more than a dozen pregnant children as young as 13 have been moved to this remote facility. Approximately half are pregnant from rape. Jonathan White, a former top ORR official under both Obama and Trump, confirmed this is "a choice to ensure zero abortions" and that officials are "literally holding her prisoner." Organizations estimate that 80% to 90% of unaccompanied girls under 18 experience sexual assault. These are high school sophomores and juniors facing high-risk pregnancies without adequate specialized care. The south Texas facility is hours from major cities and has a documented history of inadequate care. Forcing children to carry pregnancies to term against their will is what Diana Romero, director of the Center on Immigrant, Refugee and Global Health at CUNY, calls a "dramatic violation" of international law and an "egregious" violation of rights. End this policy immediately. These children deserve access to the full range of reproductive healthcare, including abortion services if they choose.