Prop A: The Travel Ban
In this series, we're diving into the 18-page ordinance that’s currently threatening Amarillo’s culture, economy, and the well-being of its people. So far, we’ve covered how this will encourage neighbors to sue neighbors, encourages lawsuits without proof, prevents you from defending yourself in court, imposes extreme fines on its victims, and criminalizes free speech and association by creating cruel and unfair trials. Today we are diving in to explain how Prop A creates a ban on your right to travel.
Proposition A proposes unprecedented overreach. While it may seem like a local policy, its impact extends far beyond Amarillo’s borders—potentially restricting the personal freedoms of every resident, especially when seeking reproductive healthcare.
Prop A as a Travel Ban
One of the most concerning aspects of Prop A is its attempt to restrict Amarillo residents' ability to seek legal medical care, such as abortions, outside Texas. Though abortions are legal in other states, this ordinance allows lawsuits against anyone who assists in facilitating out-of-state care. This effectively creates a “travel ban” on healthcare, imposing legal penalties on those supporting a person's decision to seek medical treatment that is perfectly legal in another state.
According to Prop A:
“The prohibitions in this section and chapter shall apply extraterritorially to the maximum extent permitted by the Constitution of the United States and the Texas Constitution.”
This vague language allows the ordinance to target individuals far outside Amarillo, bringing concerns about violating basic rights, including the constitutional right to travel freely across state lines for medical care.
Extraterritorial Overreach: How It Affects You
Extraterritoriality is when laws designed for one geographic area attempt to control actions taken outside of that region. Prop A is alarming because it extends Amarillo’s legal reach beyond city lines, targeting Amarilloans for their actions in other states.
Imagine you have a loved one who travels to New Mexico for legal abortion care. If you help with travel plans, provide emotional support, or even offer advice, Prop A could allow someone to sue you for aiding in what’s considered a lawful act in New Mexico. The ordinance turns simple acts of kindness into potential legal liabilities, threatening to penalize those offering support or guidance.
The Equal Protection Issue
Prop A disproportionately targets individuals seeking reproductive healthcare—primarily birthing people—by singling out their actions, despite the fact that these actions are legal elsewhere. This undermines the Equal Protection Clause of the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees equal treatment under the law. In effect, the ordinance discriminates against a specific group, infringing on their right to access healthcare in a discriminatory manner. If enacted, it could pave the way for unequal enforcement of laws that disproportionately impact marginalized communities.
How Prop A Criminalizes Compassion
Beyond travel restrictions, Prop A penalizes everyday compassionate acts like emotional support and logistical assistance. The ordinance’s vague definition of “aiding and abetting” could make you liable for providing “abortion doula” services, such as offering emotional or logistical support, making appointments, providing a meal for a family, or even being there for someone facing a difficult decision.
This means that simply offering a ride to a friend or helping them make a medical appointment could expose you to lawsuits from anti-abortion activists. Prop A turns ordinary acts of kindness into legal risks, creating a chilling effect on anyone wanting to help a loved one.
Early voting starts October 21st
Election Day: November 5th
