The Republican-led House approved a provision on Friday that would block abortion funding for women being held in immigration detention facilities.
Under the provision, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials would be prohibited to use agency funds to provide abortions for illegal immigrant detainees, except for abortions sought because of rape, incest or a pregnancy that threatens the mother's life,
The Hill reported.
The measure was attached to a $46 million Homeland Security spending bill, which was approved on Friday. It states that no ICE employee is obligated to "perform or facilitate in any way … any abortion."
Republicans want a consistent policy for those held in detention camps and those in American prisons, which do not allow abortion services for inmates. A spokeswoman for ICE, Barbara Gonzalez, said it has not paid for abortion services since its 2003 creation.
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