Midwife Arrested for Alleged Illegal Abortions in Texas
Texas authorities accuse midwife of performing illegal abortions, leading to her arrest
The Lone Star State is known for its strict abortion laws, and recently, a midwife named Maria Margarita Rojas found herself on the wrong side of them. Rojas, who goes by "Dr. Maria," has been accused of performing illegal abortions and running an illegal clinic network in the Houston area.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrest on March 18, 2025. The midwife is facing charges of illegal abortion, a second-degree felony, and practicing medicine without a license.
The Arrest and Clinics
Known for her multiple clinics in the Houston area—Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring—Rojas was arrested in Waller County. The Attorney General's Office indicated that Rojas had been operating illegally due to the employment of unlicensed individuals, who masqueraded as licensed medical professionals.
The Law and Violations
The Texas Human Life Protection Act of 2021 outlaws abortions except in cases where the mother's life is at risk or there's a substantial risk of impairment to a major bodily function. This law puts the burden of criminal punishment on providers rather than patients in cases of illegal abortions.
Controversies Surrounding Abortion
The issue of abortion is a hot-button politico-social topic in the U.S., particularly during election campaigns. In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the nationwide right to abortion. Afterward, Texas, like other conservative states, enacted strict abortion laws that even ban abortion in cases of incest and rape. Doctors have expressed concerns about the unclear guidelines and high penalties associated with performing abortions not covered by the law.
While some supporters of these new laws celebrate this change, the abolition of the right to abortion sparks intense debate and division in American society. President Trump's appointment of three conservative justices during his first term helped pave the way for the elimination of the nationwide right to abortion in 2022.
Source: ntv.de, als/AFP
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Background and Charges- Charges: Rojas was charged with the illegal performance of an abortion, a second-degree felony, and practicing medicine without a license. A second-degree felony in Texas can result in a prison sentence of two to 20 years and a fine of up to $10,000[3][4].- Clinics Involved: Rojas owned and operated multiple clinics in the Houston area, including Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring[1][2].
Investigation and Legal Context- Investigation: The arrest followed an extensive investigation by Attorney General Paxton's Law Enforcement Division, which revealed that Rojas' clinics employed unlicensed individuals who posed as medical professionals[2][4].- Texas Abortion Laws: The Texas Human Life Protection Act of 2021 bans abortions except in cases where the mother's life is at risk or there is a risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function. The law holds providers, not patients, criminally responsible for illegal abortions[3][4].
Legal Proceedings- Bond and Court Proceedings: Rojas was initially arrested on March 6 and released on a $10,000 bond. She was rearrested on March 18 alongside an employee, Jose Ley, with bonds set at $500,000 for abortion-related charges and $200,000 for medical license charges[5].- Prosecution: The case was referred to Attorney General Paxton's office by Waller County District Attorney Sean Whittmore and will proceed to a grand jury for potential indictment[5].
Public Response- Community Impact: Rojas' clinics served a primarily Spanish-speaking, low-income community. Some colleagues expressed shock and disbelief at the allegations, describing Rojas as a skilled midwife[5].
I'm not going to say that I'm not surprised by the arrest of my colleague, Maria Margarita Rojas, in Houston, Texas. As a midwife, Rojas had been operating multiple clinics that were allegedly engaged in illegally performing abortions. Despite serving a predominantly Spanish-speaking, low-income community, Rojas was arrested and is facing charges of performing an illegal abortion, a second-degree felony, and practicing medicine without a license.
