Maria Margarita Rojas, a Texan midwife, could face life imprisonment for providing access to abortion in Texas.
On Monday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrest of Rojas, also known as “Dr. Maria,” along with Jose Ley, an employee at her healthcare clinic who does not hold a Texas medical license.
Rojas and Ley are charged with practicing medicine without a license and providing illegal abortions—felonies that carry penalties of up to life in prison and fines of up to $100,000. These arrests mark the first prosecution of an abortion provider in Texas since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.
Rojas’ Clinics Served Spanish-Speaking, Low-Income Patients
Rojas operated multiple clinics in the Houston area that catered primarily to Spanish-speaking and low-income patients—communities that often face significant barriers to healthcare access.
Some reproductive rights advocates argue that the case against Rojas is part of a broader effort to expand Texas’ near-total abortion ban.
“Paxton, a political operator who picks cases strategically, likely chose Rojas because he believes Americans won’t find her sympathetic—whether due to racism, classism, or the stories his office plans to spin,” said journalist Jessica Valenti, who covers reproductive rights. “Let’s make sure to prove them wrong.”
Investigation and Charges
The investigation into Rojas began on January 31, when the Texas Health and Human Services Commission received a complaint alleging that she had performed unnecessary abortions on two patients, a 26-year-old and a 19-year-old.
Authorities claim Rojas provided the 19-year-old with abortion medication after determining that continuing her pregnancy was not a safe option. A third patient, diagnosed with a four-week pregnancy with only a 9% chance of viability, also reported receiving a medication abortion at Rojas’ clinic.
Texas law only allows abortion if the pregnancy poses a life-threatening risk to the patient. Paxton’s office argues that these procedures did not meet that legal standard.
Legal Action and Political Response
In addition to pursuing criminal charges, Paxton’s healthcare division has filed for a temporary restraining order to shut down Rojas’ clinics.
“In Texas, life is sacred,” Paxton said in a statement. “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. Texas law protecting life is clear, and we will hold those who violate it accountable.”
Rojas’ case is expected to spark further legal and political battles as Texas continues to enforce some of the strictest abortion laws in the country.
