LANSING (WWJ) -- Women who travel to Michigan seeking abortions will be protected following a new executive order signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
The order, which was signed on Wednesday, makes sure that women seeking reproductive health care will not be extradited back to their home state -- if that state has a law in place that looks to prosecute women who seek abortion services out-of-state.
“After the overturn of Roe v Wade and the ensuing implementation of a series of extreme bans on abortion that criminalize women and medical professionals across the country, visitors to Michigan must know that they can access reproductive health care within our borders without fear of extradition," said Whitmer. "That is why I signed an executive order today refusing to cooperate with out-of-state law enforcement seeking to punish women for seeking health care."
Under this order, providers of legal abortion in Michigan will also be protected from being extradited for prosecution in another state, Whitmer said.
Currently, there are laws and legislative proposals across the country that would make it a felony for a woman to seek an abortion, and for a doctor to provide it. In Michigan, a proposal exists to imprison health care providers for up to 10 years if they help a woman get an abortion.
If any of these laws are enacted, women and doctors could potentially face jail time.
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“I will stand up for all women, even if their local and statewide leaders refuse to," said Whitmer. "Michigan must remain a place where a person’s basic rights are preserved.
The executive order can be viewed here.
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