After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and some states banned abortions altogether, many Americans began crossing state lines to get one. In 2023, the number of patients traveling out of state for an abortion or to get abortion pills doubled compared to 2019, according to new data from the Guttmacher Institute. Nearly one-fifth of all recorded abortions involved interstate travel. This trend was recently captured by The New York Times in a series of maps.
“We’re having people travel hundreds or thousands of miles for a procedure that typically takes less than 10 minutes and can be done in a doctor’s office setting,” said Amy Hagstrom Miller, the founder of Whole Woman’s Health. “Nobody does that for any other medical procedure.”
California has emerged as a safe haven for abortion seekers. State legislators in Sacramento have passed laws fortifying access to abortion, amending the state Constitution to guarantee the right to abortion and contraception. California, along with Oregon and Washington, have officially declared protection for abortion patients and providers from the legal reach of other states.
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a bill allowing Arizona abortion providers to travel to California to provide abortions to their Arizona patients. This move was a response to a possible reinstatement of a near-total ban on abortions in Arizona. “California stands ready to protect reproductive freedom,” declared the governor.
The Guttmacher data reveals that 179,610 abortions were performed in California in 2023, a 19 percent increase from 2019. Approximately 4 percent of these abortions were for patients who do not reside in California.
The statistics highlight the significance of California as a destination for individuals seeking reproductive health services. The state’s proactive approach to protecting reproductive rights has made it a crucial location for those facing restrictions in other states. This trend underscores the importance of safeguarding access to abortion services and ensuring that individuals can make choices about their own bodies freely and without unnecessary barriers.