Texas authorities have arrested a midwife accused of providing illegal abortions in violation of the state’s strict abortion laws.
The attorney general’s office confirmed that the case could be one of the first criminal prosecutions under Texas’ near-total abortion ban.
Maria Margarita Rojas, 48, was taken into custody in Waller County. She faces charges of illegally providing abortions and practicing medicine without a license. Officials claim she operated multiple unlicensed clinics in the Houston area where unlawful abortion procedures were performed.
If convicted, Rojas could face up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Additionally, the Texas Human Life Protection Act allows authorities to impose a minimum fine of $100,000 per violation. The law, passed in 2021, bans nearly all abortions in the state, except when the pregnant person’s life or health is at risk. However, it does not include exceptions for rape or incest.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton released a statement on Monday, vowing to enforce the state’s abortion restrictions. He stated that only providers, not patients, would be held criminally responsible. Authorities have also filed a temporary restraining order to shut down the clinics allegedly connected to Rojas.
Holly Shearman, a fellow midwife who worked with Rojas, expressed disbelief over the allegations. She described Rojas as a devout Catholic who primarily provided prenatal care to low-income Spanish-speaking families.
Rojas’ arrest comes as Texas aggressively pursues legal action against abortion providers. Last year, Paxton’s office sued a New York-based doctor accused of mailing abortion pills to a Texas resident. The same doctor was later indicted for criminal abortion charges.
New York, which has laws protecting abortion providers from out-of-state prosecution, has refused to extradite the doctor to Texas. Governor Kathy Hochul called the case “outrageous” and accused Republicans of trying to restrict abortion access nationwide.
It remains unclear whether Rojas has legal representation at this time.