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Oklahoma governor warns Native American tribes against creating abortion havens

Stitt said that the tribes are "super liberal" and it is something his state is "watching"

Published: May 15, 2022 9:41pm

Updated: May 15, 2022 10:52pm

Gov. Kevin Stitt (R-Okla.) warned Native American tribes in his state to not open up abortion clinics as safe havens as Oklahoma implements more stringent pro-life measures and the Supreme Court appears poised to overturn Roe v. Wade.

"You know, the tribes in Oklahoma are super liberal," Stitt told "Fox News Sunday."

"We think that there's a possibility that some tribes may try to set up abortion on demand," the Republican governor said, noting that it is "something that we're watching."

Oklahomans "will not think very well of that if the tribes try to start up abortion clinics," Stitt told Fox.

Reservations make up about half of Oklahoma. Stitt expressed particular concern about abortion in Tulsa. Much of the city is considered to be native lands, encompassing about one million people. 

Earlier this month, Stitt signed a Texas-style abortion ban into law that immediately allowed private citizens to sue those involved in an abortion after a fetal heartbeat is detected.

He also approved a bill in April making it a felony to perform an abortion in Oklahoma with the threat of up to 10 years in prison.

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