Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) announced this week the arrest of 48-year-old Maria Margarita Rojas, a Houston-area midwife and abortion provider, for conducting illegal abortions and operating a network of unlicensed clinics. Known as "Dr. Maria," Rojas was taken into custody in Waller County and faces charges of practicing medicine without a license and performing illegal abortions, which is a second-degree felony.
Rojas operated several clinics in the Northwest Houston area, including Clinica Waller Latinoamericana, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic. Investigations by Paxton’s Law Enforcement Division revealed that Rojas and her staff, who were not licensed medical professionals, allegedly provided illegal abortion services to the public. These actions violated the Texas Human Life Protection Act, which restricts abortion access and criminalizes abortion providers.
In a press release, Attorney General Paxton expressed strong support for Texas' pro-life stance, 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.” The attorney general further emphasized the severity of the violation, commenting, “Texas law protecting life is clear, and we will hold those who violate it accountable.”
In addition to Rojas's arrest, the attorney general’s office filed a temporary restraining order to close Rojas’s clinics, preventing further illegal activity. Under the Texas Human Life Protection Act, the attorney general has the authority to seek civil penalties of at least $100,000 per violation for unlawful abortions.
The case was referred to Paxton’s office by Waller County District Attorney Sean Whittmore.
The arrest and subsequent legal actions mark a first for Texas as it is the first time an abortion provider has been arrested under Texas’ 2022 ban on abortions.
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