Tara Shaver, leader of Abortion Free New Mexico, has urged residents to focus on fostering a culture that values motherhood and supports pregnant women rather than expanding abortion services. This statement was made on the organization's website on March 11.
"New Mexicans need to come together to build a culture that views motherhood as a beautiful gift and children as a blessing," said Shaver. "Pregnant women in crisis are vulnerable to the predatory abortion industry. Abortion is innately traumatizing to a woman's body, mind and soul."
According to Abortion Free New Mexico's website, the newly opened Valley Abortion Group (VAG) in Albuquerque is a queer-led abortion center that exclusively provides abortions, including elective procedures up to 32 weeks using the M.O.L.D. method. This induction abortion process involves Digoxin, Laminaria, Misoprostol, and Oxytocin. The clinic was initially planned by late-term abortionist Carmen Landau before her sudden death in 2022 and heavily relies on abortion funds and Medicaid to cover costs ranging from $12,500 at 28 weeks to $17,500 at 32 weeks.
New Mexico has some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the country. As of 2024, the state does not impose mandatory waiting periods, parental consent requirements for minors, or gestational limits on the procedure. According to the New Mexico Department of Health, this has led to a significant influx of out-of-state patients seeking abortion services.
CNN Health reports that New Mexico has become a key destination for out-of-state abortion seekers due to its lack of major restrictions. In the first half of 2023, nearly three-quarters of abortions were performed in New Mexico for individuals who traveled from other states, particularly Texas. This makes New Mexico one of the top three states in the U.S. for out-of-state abortion care alongside Illinois and North Carolina.
Shaver is also President of Abortion Free New Mexico and a full-time pro-life missionary. Since 2010, she and her husband Bud Shaver have worked towards making New Mexico "Abortion Free," with their efforts backed by Operation Rescue and covered by major national news outlets.
