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Headline Roundup March 20th, 2025

Midwife Arrested in Texas For Allegedly Performing Abortions, Operating Without Medical License

Summary from the AllSides News Team

In the first case of criminal charges Texas has held against an abortion provider since the overturning of Roe v. Wade, a midwife has been arrested in Houston, Texas, on charges of performing illegal abortions and operating unlicensed clinics.

The Details: Maria Margarita Rojas has been charged with illegal performance of an abortion, a second-degree felony in Texas, and practicing medicine without a license. USA Today (Lean Left bias) clarifies that Rojas has had a midwife license since 2018. 

For Context: According to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Rojas allegedly operated three clinics in the northwest Houston area which allegedly employed unlicensed individuals who presented themselves as licensed medical professionals. Under the Texas Human Life Protection Act, the state prohibits abortion in almost all cases, with no allowances for early stage pregnancies, rape, or incest. 

How the Media Covered It: Townhall (Right) identified Rojas as an “alleged abortionist,” rather than a midwife, in a headline. It also called the state’s abortion legislation “strong life-affirming laws.” USA Today quoted the midwife who runs a clinic Rojas works at describing her as “a devout Catholic who provided care for primarily Spanish-speaking low-income communities.” It also wrote that Texas has the “most restrictive abortion laws in the United States.” The Hill (Center) reported on the two additional arrests made in connection with Rojas, quoting Paxton’s statement that “individuals killing unborn babies by performing illegal abortions in Texas will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.”

Revised by the AllSides staff (of humans) after a first draft from our custom AI. Learn more. Support our mission.

Featured Coverage of this Story

An Alleged Illegal Abortionist Has Been Arrested
An Alleged Illegal Abortionist Has Been Arrested

AP Photo/Patrick Semansky

News

A 48-year-old woman in the Houston, Texas area was arrested for allegedly providing illegal abortions, according to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. 

Maria Margarita Rojas, a midwife, allegedly operates a network of clinics that provide abortions in Houston. She was taken into custody in Waller County and charged with the illegal performance of an abortion, a second-degree felony, as well as practicing medicine without a license (via Attorney General of Texas).

Open on Townhall
Texas makes 2 more abortion arrests
Texas makes 2 more abortion arrests

Donna McWilliam, Associated Press file

News

Texas Attor­ney Gen­er­al Ken Pax­ton (R) announced Tuesday that two more individuals have been arrested on charges they provided illegal abortions, apparently in connection to the midwife who was arrested this week on the same charges.

Jose Manuel Cendan Ley, 29, and Rubildo Labanino Matos, 54, were arrested earlier this month. Ley is accused of performing abortions unlawfully and without a medical license alongside Maria Margarita Rojas, a midwife in the Houston area who was arrested Monday. Matos, a nurse practitioner, was arrested in connection to the investigation, Paxton’s office said.

Open on The Hill
Texas midwife charged in alleged illegal abortions in violation of restrictive 2021 law
News

A Texas midwife has been arrested and charged on allegations that she performed illegal abortions, the state’s Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Monday.

Maria Margarita Rojas, 48, faces one charge of illegally performing an abortion, as well as a charge of practicing medicine without a license, according to a news release from Paxton's office. Court records obtained by USA TODAY show that Rojas was officially charged on March 12 for practicing medicine without a license, a third-degree felony.

Open on USA TODAY

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