A 48-year-old woman, Maria Margarita Rojas, has been arrested in the Houston area for allegedly providing illegal abortions and operating unlicensed medical clinics, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Monday. Rojas, known as “Dr. Maria,” is accused of running multiple clinics in northwestern Houston, including Clinica Waller Latinoamericana, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic.
Rojas faces charges of illegally performing abortions and practicing medicine without a license. The illegal performance of an abortion is a second-degree felony in Texas, punishable by two to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Under the Texas Human Life Protection Act of 2021, Paxton’s office can also seek a fine of at least $100,000 per violation.
Paxton emphasized his commitment to enforcing the state’s strict abortion laws, 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 Healthcare Program Enforcement Division, part of the attorney general’s office, has filed for a temporary restraining order to shut down Rojas’ clinics. The arrest highlights the ongoing enforcement of Texas’ abortion bans, which have been among the most restrictive in the nation since the overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
This case underscores the legal and ethical debates surrounding abortion access in Texas and the broader U.S., as state officials continue to crack down on unauthorized providers.
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