The Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization clears the way for states to change abortion laws. Dobbs v. Jackson overturned Roe v. Wade, holding that the constitutional right to an abortion no longer exists. The majority opinion on Dobbs stated, that
"Roe was also egregiously wrong and deeply damaging... Roe’s constitutional analysis was far outside the bounds of any reasonable interpretation of the various constitutional provisions to which it vaguely pointed. Roe was on collision course with Constitution from day it was decided... the Court usurped the power to address a question of profound moral and social importance that the Constitution unequivocally leaves for the people... The Court short-circuited the democratic process by closing it to the large number of Americans who dissented in any respect from Roe. Roe fanned into life an issue that has inflamed our national politics in general..." Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, 2022 WL 2276808, at *26 (U.S., 2022).
Now that the regulation of abortion is in the hands of the states, many states had trigger laws in place to immediately ban abortions within their borders once Roe v. Wade. Other States, Like New York, have put in place a legal framework that would protect abortion, even if Roe was overturned, also known as sanctuary states.
In New York, officials have been planning and preparing the state to become a safe haven for those seeking the procedure, since the leaking of the Supreme Court decision in May. City Health Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan tweeted, "Restriction to abortion rights anywhere is harmful to pregnant people everywhere. New York City will continue to be a safe haven for those who need abortion and reproductive health services." Similarly, Mayor Eric Adams stated that "to those seeking abortions around the country: know that you are welcome here, and that we will make every effort to ensure our reproductive services are available and readily accessible to you".