Illinois

mucifer

(25,702 posts) Sat Apr 25, 2026, 07:27 AM 17 hrs ago

1 in 4 women crossing state lines for abortions traveled to Illinois in 2025

Illinois by far remained the most popular destination nationally among patients who had to cross state lines to obtain abortion services in 2025, according to a new report from a prominent abortion-rights organization

Illinois-based providers performed nearly 1 out of 4 four abortions for patients seeking the procedure outside of their home state, often as a result of outright abortion bans or prohibitive restrictions where they live.

The data from the Guttmacher Institute shows no other state came close to Illinois in terms of volume last year, with providers here performing the procedure at a rate nearly double the state with the next highest level of abortions on out-of-state patients, North Carolina.

Since two-term Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker took office in 2019, he has moved to preserve and strengthen access to abortion rights in Illinois even as the U.S. Supreme Court embraced tighter restrictions on the procedure and gave states authority to impose total bans.

https://chicago.suntimes.com/abortion/2026/04/03/illinois-abortion-safe-haven-out-of-state-patients-2025-report

6 replies

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Highlight:

1 in 4 women crossing state lines for abortions traveled to Illinois in 2025 (Original Post) mucifer 17 hrs ago OP

For a large portion of Mordor it's the closest safe haven. RandySF 17 hrs ago #1

Mordor? Munu 15 hrs ago #4

Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Ohio, Mississippi, Alabama Midnight Writer 15 hrs ago #5

Under Governor Pritzker, Illinois has expanded women's healthcare clinics and services. Midnight Writer 15 hrs ago #2

Yay us, I guess. Munu 15 hrs ago #3

I'm proud to be an Illinoisian these days. ShazzieB 10 hrs ago #6

RandySF

(85,402 posts)

1. For a large portion of Mordor it's the closest safe haven.

Reply to mucifer (Original post)

Sat Apr 25, 2026, 07:39 AM

17 hrs ago

Munu

(245 posts)

4. Mordor?

Reply to RandySF (Reply #1)

Sat Apr 25, 2026, 09:33 AM

15 hrs ago

You mean Indiana?

Midnight Writer

(25,584 posts)

5. Indiana, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Ohio, Mississippi, Alabama

Reply to Munu (Reply #4)

Sat Apr 25, 2026, 09:53 AM

15 hrs ago

Illinois is within a 6-hour drive for most of these Red States that have outlawed abortion. Some of these Red States even regulate non-abortion health care services for women, such as pre-natal care.

Illinois is a Blue Island in a sea of Red.

Midnight Writer

(25,584 posts)

2. Under Governor Pritzker, Illinois has expanded women's healthcare clinics and services.

Reply to mucifer (Original post)

Sat Apr 25, 2026, 09:18 AM

15 hrs ago

They opened a new women's clinic near me two years ago.

Illinois has also become a "tourist destination" for weed users. We are smack in the middle of some very regressive Red States.

Munu

(245 posts)

3. Yay us, I guess.

Reply to mucifer (Original post)

Sat Apr 25, 2026, 09:32 AM

15 hrs ago

Too bad it's necessary.

ShazzieB

(22,747 posts)

6. I'm proud to be an Illinoisian these days.

Reply to mucifer (Original post)

Sat Apr 25, 2026, 02:28 PM

10 hrs ago

Not just because of this, but for lots of reasons. I had no idea we were the top destination for people who need to leave their own states for abortion care, but when you look at our location on the map, it makes a ton of sense.

It sucks that so many red states have either banned abortion outright or enacted restrictive laws that make it harder than it needs to be, but I'm glad my state is in a position (geographically and otherwise) to offer hope to so many.

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