Texas abortionist arrested for alleged network of illegal facilities

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office on Monday announced the arrest of Houston-area abortionist Maria Margarita Rojas. Rojas, who also works as a midwife, is charged with the illegal performance of an abortion—a second-degree felony—as well as practicing medicine without a license, according to Paxton’s office.

Under the 2021 Texas Human Life Protection Act, Paxton can seek civil penalties of at least $100,000 per unlawful abortion. Rojas is the first abortion provider to be criminally charged under the act, according to The Texas Tribune. Officials also took an associate of Rojas, Jose Ley, into custody on the same charges. Waller County Criminal District Attorney Sean Whittmore, who alerted Paxton to the arrest, will be working with the attorney general to prosecute Rojas and Ley.

Rojas was previously arrested and charged with practicing medicine without a license, then released on bond earlier in March, court documents show.

Paxton's office noted that abortion providers, not women seeking abortions, are criminally liable for the procedure in Texas.

Where did Rojas perform abortions? Paxton’s office says Rojas owned and operated multiple abortion facilities near Houston: Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring. Paxton’s office has also applied for a temporary restraining order to shut down those facilities.

Dig deeper: Read David Beard’s review of a book by pastor and author J. Cameron Fraser that urges society to affirm the value of human life.