Trump Pardons 23 Anti-Abortion Activists Ahead of March for Life Rally

President Donald Trump has pardoned 23 anti-abortion activists convicted of blockading clinic entrances, a day before the annual March for Life rally in Washington, D.C.

Donald Trump has granted pardons to 23 anti-abortion activists, including individuals convicted of obstructing a reproductive health clinic and intimidating both staff members and patients.

The pardons were issued one day prior to the March for Life, an annual anti-abortion rally in Washington DC.

In the meantime, a U.S. judge has temporarily halted Trump’s order to modify birthright citizenship, which was scheduled to take effect in February.

Trump has additionally ordered the declassification of files concerning the deaths of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, and Martin Luther King Jr., as part of a series of executive orders he issued.

As previously reported, President Trump pardoned 23 anti-abortion activists by signing an executive order on Thursday, less than a week after his return to the White House.

The 2024 US presidential election was the first to take place after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which had safeguarded the nationwide right to an abortion.

In the days leading up to the election, the BBC interviewed female voters regarding abortion and gender—key issues that were highlighted throughout the campaign.

Michelle Allen, a 38-year-old engineer from Arizona and registered Republican, expressed her concern about women’s rights and health care.

While I’m not solely focused on a single issue when voting, this one is incredibly significant to me. Working in the medical field, I was personally impacted by the overturn of Roe v Wade because it restricted my access to many necessary medications. There was uncertainty about their legality, even though these drugs have multiple uses beyond reproductive health care.

Angela Richardson, a 27-year-old graduate student in Iowa who supports the Democrats, stated: “Clearly, abortion is a significant issue that requires attention.”

I have to admit that I’m not entirely satisfied with how either candidate, Donald Trump or Kamala Harris, is addressing the issue.

Abigail Burke, a 38-year-old independent voter from Florida, stated: “As a woman, reproductive rights are incredibly important to me.”

I am eager to back a party that champions reproductive rights for everyone, not just women. It’s important to address these issues early on because they often begin with women’s rights but can extend much further if unchecked.

The United Nations emphasizes that the right to seek asylum is “universally recognized” following US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend all refugee admissions and pause the US asylum program.

According to the AFP news agency, UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani stated that “While all states have the right to exercise jurisdiction along their international borders, they must adhere to their human rights obligations in doing so.”

She adds that seeking asylum is recognized worldwide as a fundamental human right.

On Monday, Trump issued an executive order halting the Refugee Admissions Program, stating that the United States “is unable to integrate large numbers of migrants and particularly refugees into its communities.”

This decision has disrupted travel plans for over 1,600 approved Afghan refugees, with more than 3,000 others still awaiting resettlement in Albania.

The UNHCR stated yesterday that “refugee resettlement is a life-saving measure” and expressed their readiness to collaborate with the new administration in finding solutions for refugees.