A Texas midwife, Maria Margarita Rojas, has recently been arrested and charged with providing illegal abortions, marking a significant development in the state’s near-total abortion ban. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the charges on Monday, accusing Rojas of the illegal performance of an abortion, a second-degree felony, as well as practicing medicine without a license, a third-degree felony.
According to Paxton, Rojas, 48, allegedly operated at least three clinics in the Houston area where illegal abortion procedures were performed in direct violation of state law. Paxton emphasized the sanctity of life in Texas and stated his commitment to protecting the unborn and upholding the state’s pro-life laws by holding accountable those who violate them.
The case was referred to Paxton for prosecution by Waller County District Attorney Sean Whittmore, and court records show that Rojas was arrested on March 6 and released on bond the following day. As of now, there is no listed attorney for Rojas who could speak on her behalf.
Rojas’ clinics advertised various services, including physical exams, ultrasounds, and vaccines, but a woman reached by phone at one of the clinics claimed not to know Rojas. Messages left at the other two clinics were not immediately returned. Paxton’s office has filed a temporary restraining order to close Rojas’ clinics.
Texas is one of 12 states currently enforcing a ban on abortion at all stages of pregnancy, with exceptions allowed only in cases where the pregnant patient’s life is at risk. However, opponents of the ban argue that it is too vague when it comes to medically necessary exceptions. To address this issue, a bill has been filed in the current Texas legislative session to clarify the medical exceptions allowed under the law.
The charges against Rojas carry significant penalties, with the illegal performance of an abortion punishable by up to 20 years in prison and practicing medicine without a license carrying a penalty of up to 10 years in prison. This case marks a rare instance of criminal charges being filed alleging the operation of illegal abortion clinics since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and opened the door to state abortion bans.
In a related development, a Louisiana grand jury recently indicted a New York doctor for illegally prescribing abortion pills online to a Louisiana patient. Paxton has also filed a civil lawsuit against the same doctor under a similar accusation. The legal proceedings in both cases reflect the ongoing debate and legal challenges surrounding abortion rights in the United States.
Associated Press reporter Geoff Mulvihill in Cherry Hill, N.J., contributed to this report.
