An unnamed illegal-immigrant teenage mother claimed that she did not want to terminate her pregnancy, nor did she want the representation of two pro-abortion lawyers, a recent court filing shows.
The mother, who has been styled "Jane Doe" in court filings, claimed that her state-appointed guardians "made" her sign a form requesting their representation, Fox News reported. The two guardians, Rochelle and Myles Garza, have represented other illegal immigrants who have sought abortions.
In two handwritten and signed statements, Doe attested that she no longer wants an abortion, and that the Garzas should no longer represent her interests.
"At this time I have changed my decision to have an abortion," she said in a written statement included in the court filing.
"The people I saw yesterday were lawyers that made me sign, I ... do not need their help because I do not want to have an abortion," Doe further added.
Judge Rolando Olvera granted the government's request to replace the Garzas as Doe's designated guardian. As an unaccompanied minor, Doe was previously in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Service's Office of Refugee Resettlement.
The Susan B. Anthony List, a pro-life advocacy group, suggested that the Garzas may have taken advantage of Doe as part of a broader political agenda.
"Abortion advocates are taking shameless advantage of teenage girls in the vulnerable position of being in a foreign country, far from home and from loved ones, to push a harmful agenda of making the U.S. a sanctuary nation for abortion," said SBA List President Marjorie Dannenfelser.
"Now one teen has pushed back, bravely choosing life and rejecting being manipulated as a political pawn. HHS should continue taking a strong stand for the best interest of both the young mothers and unborn children in their care and protect them from such pressure. Pro-abortion lawyers cannot be trusted to do so," Dannenfelser said.
While Doe's case ended without an abortion, it is not the only suit seeking abortions for teenage illegal immigrants. In October, an illegally present teenager was permitted by a court to obtain an abortion following a suit brought against the Trump administration, which had previously forbidden federally funded shelters from taking any action to facilitate an unaccompanied minor ending her pregnancy.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions objected in that case, noting that the abortion had proceeded before the Department of Justice was able to file a new brief in the case.
"I think it's a serious problem, it should not have happened and we're disturbed about it, I've got to tell you," Sessions said at the time.