Houston Midwife and Associates Charged Under Abortion Ban

Maria Margarita Rojas, a midwife in Houston, Texas, has been arrested and charged with illegally performing abortions and practicing medicine without a license, marking the first such case since the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Rojas operated several clinics under the name Clinica Waller Latinoamericana and employed unlicensed individuals presenting as medical professionals. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who initiated the case, emphasized the state's commitment to enforcing its strict anti-abortion laws, which were strengthened following the Supreme Court decision. The charges against Rojas and her associates, including Jose Manuel Cendan Ley and Rubildo Labanino Matos, highlight the state's aggressive legal stance against abortion providers. Rojas faces up to 20 years in prison, with Texas law allowing for life sentences and significant fines for such offenses. The case underscores the broader national debate over reproductive rights and state-level enforcement of abortion bans.