Abortion Clinics Are Closing, Even in States That Have Become Key Access Points
CNN, February 18, 2026
Dozens of abortion clinics closed in the US after the Supreme Court Dobbs decision revoked the federal right to an abortion in June 2022 – mostly in states that enacted bans. But the churn has continued, leaving even states with some of the most protective abortion policies to do more with less. There were 753 brick-and-mortar abortion clinics in the US at the end of 2025, according to a new report by the Guttmacher Institute – 54 fewer than in 2020, including a net loss of 12 abortion clinics since March 2024. “Running a clinic in an environment like we have today is oftentimes not sustainable,” said Brittany Fonteno, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation.
Judges Decry Treatment of Nursing and Pregnant Detainees in ICE Custody
POLITICO, February 18, 2025
Federal judges are sounding alarms about the Trump administration’s treatment of pregnant and nursing detainees in ICE custody. Last month, a Minnesota judge took the Trump administration to task for detaining a legally admitted refugee who was still breastfeeding her five-month-old at the time. Around the same time, a Nevada judge ordered the immediate release of a detained woman with a high risk pregnancy. Also, in December, a California judge granted the release of a detained pregnant woman who said her weight had dropped to 90 pounds amid “dire conditions” of her detention by ICE. The Trump administration has given the courts unclear answers about whether it is following its own policy that bars the detention of pregnant and nursing immigrants in most cases.
Anti-Abortion Effort Pushes States for Wastewater Restrictions
Bloomberg Law, February 17, 2026
State battles over reproductive rights are turning toward environmental law as legislatures and advocates grapple over whether abortions pose a threat to community water supplies. A Guttmacher report chronicles nine bills in seven states that use environmental policies and deceptive claims about water pollution to target medication abortion. Efforts to tie mifepristone to environmental efforts also reach the federal level. In June 2025, U.S. lawmakers wrote to the EPA over “concerns regarding mifepristone and its potential contaminant effects on our nation’s waters.”
Pregnant Patients in Minnesota Have Postponed Abortion Appointments To Avoid ICE
The 19th, February 12, 2026
Pregnant immigrants in Minnesota have been postponing their abortions, skipping aftercare, and delaying birth control visits and urgent cancer screening follow-ups to avoid coming in contact with federal immigration agents. Medical providers say the federal operation has cut off access to time-sensitive reproductive health care, delays that can result in more complicated and expensive care. Since December 1, Planned Parenthood clinics in Minnesota have seen their no-show rate increase by about 8.2 percent, a notable increase that the organization attributes to the prolonged federal offensive[.]
Texas Court To Hear Appeal in Case of Midwife Accused of Violating State Abortion Ban
ABC News, February 19, 2026
A Texas appeals court will hear arguments on Thursday in a civil lawsuit brought against a woman accused by the state of illegally providing abortions in the Houston area. Maria Margarita Rojas allegedly provided abortions in violation of the state’s abortion ban and was practicing medicine without a license at a network of clinics in northwestern Houston, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Last year, a lower court in Waller County issued an injunction against Rojas and the three clinics at which she worked, causing them to shut down.
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Note: The information contained in this publication reflects media coverage of women’s health issues and does not necessarily reflect the views of the National Partnership for Women & Families.
