HOUSTON, TX — March 2025 — In a significant development following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Maria Margarita Rojas, a 48-year-old midwife from Houston, has been arrested and charged with performing illegal abortions, marking the first prosecution under Texas’ strict abortion ban. Rojas, a licensed midwife since 2018, is accused of running multiple unlicensed clinics and performing abortions, despite Texas’ ban on the procedure, which took effect after the 2022 Supreme Court decision. This arrest has sent shockwaves throughout the Houston community and beyond, as it highlights the ongoing legal and social implications of the state’s new restrictions on abortion.

The Incident: Investigating the Network of Clinics

Rojas was arrested after a months-long investigation sparked by an anonymous complaint filed in January 2025 with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission. According to the complaint, Rojas, operating under the name “Dr. Maria,” was providing illegal abortions at her clinics, which were located in Houston and surrounding areas such as Waller, Cypress, and Spring. The complainant claimed that Rojas charged $1,300 for each procedure and that some of her patients had undergone abortions for reasons unrelated to health concerns.

The investigation was launched by the Waller County District Attorney’s Office, which then referred the case to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton‘s office. Paxton, a staunch advocate for pro-life laws, praised the efforts of the law enforcement agencies involved, emphasizing that Texas would hold those violating abortion laws accountable, stating, “In Texas, life is sacred. I will always do everything in my power to protect the unborn, defend our state’s pro-life laws, and work to ensure that unlicensed individuals endangering the lives of women by performing illegal abortions are fully prosecuted.”

Over the course of several weeks, investigators uncovered that Rojas owned and operated multiple clinics under the names Clinica Waller Latinoamericana, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic. These clinics, mostly located in strip malls or low-profile buildings, employed individuals who falsely represented themselves as licensed medical professionals. All payments for abortion services were reportedly made in cash, which raised further suspicions about the legality of these operations.

The Charges: Illegal Abortions and Practicing Medicine Without a License

Rojas was charged with performing illegal abortions, as well as practicing medicine without a license. The charge of performing an illegal abortion carries a severe penalty in Texas — up to 20 years in prison — while the charge of practicing medicine without a license could add another 10 years in prison.

Jose Ley, an employee at one of Rojas’ clinics, was also arrested and charged with performing an abortion and practicing medicine without a license. Ley, a Cuban national, entered the United States illegally in 2022, later obtaining a Green Card. Alongside Ley, another clinic worker, Rubildo Labanino Matos, faces charges related to conspiring to practice medicine without a license.

The arrest of Rojas represents the first criminal prosecution of its kind under Texas’ near-total abortion ban, which was enacted after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Texas law, which prohibits most abortions, provides exceptions only in cases where the life of the mother is at risk, but does not allow exceptions for cases of rape or incest.

Background on the Texas Abortion Ban: The Legal Landscape

The Texas Heartbeat Act (SB8), signed into law in May 2021, dramatically altered the legal landscape surrounding abortion in the state. The law prohibits most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, before many women even know they are pregnant. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in June 2022, Texas’s abortion ban became fully enforceable, resulting in the near-total criminalization of abortion.

Texas is one of 12 states that has implemented a near-total abortion ban since Roe v. Wade was overturned. Unlike some states that allow exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or fetal abnormalities, Texas provides no exceptions except in cases where a pregnancy endangers the life of the mother. This has led to significant challenges, with many women traveling out of state to seek reproductive health services.

The charge against Rojas underscores the broader ramifications of the ban, as the state continues to grapple with its enforcement. The law also places significant pressure on health care professionals, as those found performing illegal abortions face criminal charges and substantial prison sentences.

Rojas’ Background: Who Is Maria Margarita Rojas?

Maria Margarita Rojas is originally from Honduras and has been living in the U.S. for the past 20 years. Rojas was licensed as a midwife in Texas in 2018 and has worked in various capacities within the Houston area, serving a significant number of Latino and immigrant communities. According to friends and associates, Rojas was known for her kind demeanor and strong Christian faith. A fellow midwife, Holly Shearman, described Rojas as a “wonderful, Christian woman” who was deeply committed to helping others.

However, Rojas’ reputation has been marred by her illegal abortion activities. Her arrest is particularly controversial, as it highlights the intersection of immigration, healthcare, and the restrictive abortion laws in Texas. Many individuals in the immigrant community, particularly undocumented immigrants, have turned to Rojas’s clinics due to a lack of access to legal, affordable healthcare. These patients often face barriers to seeking proper medical care, such as language barriers, lack of health insurance, and fear of legal repercussions. Rojas’ clinics were reportedly willing to perform procedures without asking for identification, accepting only cash in exchange for services.

The Investigation: Uncovering the Network of Clinics

The investigation into Rojas’s activities began when an anonymous tipster reported the illegal practices at one of her clinics, Clinica Waller Latinoamericana. The complaint, submitted to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, claimed that Rojas was charging significant amounts of money for abortions and that the procedures were being performed illegally. Investigators worked with the Texas Attorney General’s Office and gathered evidence from multiple sources, including interviews with former patients and whistleblowers who had worked with Rojas.

The investigation revealed that Rojas was operating a network of clinics that served as an alternative to legally licensed medical facilities, providing care to vulnerable populations, including undocumented immigrants who were unwilling or unable to seek care from mainstream healthcare providers. The clinics, while operating under the guise of offering reproductive health services, were not licensed by any state medical board.

The Broader Context: Abortion Access and Healthcare in Texas

The criminal case against Rojas is emblematic of the challenges that women, particularly in underserved communities, face in Texas and across the U.S. as access to abortion services becomes increasingly restricted. Since the Roe v. Wade decision was overturned, Texas has seen a rise in the number of individuals seeking illegal and unsafe alternatives to legal abortion care. The closure of many clinics and restrictions on reproductive health services have pushed women into situations where they must choose between traveling out of state or seeking dangerous, unregulated procedures.

The investigation into Rojas’s clinics highlights the lack of access to healthcare for many women, particularly in Texas’s immigrant communities. Undocumented women are disproportionately affected by the state’s strict abortion laws, as they are less likely to seek out services due to fear of deportation or being reported to immigration authorities. Many women have also reported difficulty finding providers who will treat them without fear of legal consequences or racial discrimination.

The arrest of Rojas also draws attention to the larger issue of healthcare access in the United States. According to a 2021 report by the Guttmacher Institute, nearly 90% of U.S. counties lack an abortion provider. This shortage has forced many women, particularly those in rural areas or without access to private insurance, to seek out alternative and often unsafe options.

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Legal Ramifications and Potential Precedents

Rojas’s arrest sets a significant legal precedent, as it is the first case under Texas’s post-Roe abortion ban that involves a healthcare professional providing abortions. This case will likely serve as a bellwether for future legal actions in Texas and across other states with similar bans in place. The legal consequences of this case will extend far beyond Rojas’s clinics, as it may lead to further investigations of other illegal abortion providers who are exploiting vulnerable communities.

The case also raises questions about how state governments will regulate healthcare workers who continue to perform abortions in defiance of state laws. It is clear that the legal consequences for these workers could be severe, as the charges against Rojas carry significant prison time and fines. As such, the legal landscape surrounding abortion services in Texas and other states will continue to evolve, with more cases likely to emerge in the coming years.

Conclusion: A Community in Crisis

Maria Margarita Rojas’s arrest for performing illegal abortions under Texas’s restrictive abortion laws has highlighted the growing divide over abortion access in the U.S. and the continued challenges faced by women in underserved communities. The case illustrates the intersection of immigration, healthcare, and abortion access, raising crucial questions about the regulation of healthcare services and the ethical implications of denying reproductive healthcare.

As investigations continue, the implications of Rojas’s arrest will unfold, and further legal actions are expected. This tragedy underscores the importance of safe, legal, and accessible reproductive healthcare for all women, regardless of their immigration status or socioeconomic standing. The coming months will likely see continued legal battles, further discussions on reproductive rights, and ongoing public outcry over the denial of women’s fundamental rights to make decisions about their own bodies.