Two arrested in Texas for performing abortions
March 17 (UPI) -- Two people have been arrested and charged with performing abortions in Texas, a state with one of the nation's strictest bans against the controversial medical practice.
Maria Margarita Rojas, 48, and Jose Cendan Ley, 29, were arrested on charges of practicing medicine without a license and performance of an abortion, Waller County District Attorney Sean Whittmore said.
"In Waller County we respect the sanctity of all life and our citizens expect people to follow the laws of the Great State of Texas," Whittmore said in a statement
Rojas, known as Dr. Maria, is a midwife who operates three clinics, one in each of Waller, Cypress and Spring counties. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said his Healthcare Program Enforcement Division has filed a temporary restraining order to shut the facilities down.
According to Paxton, the facilities illegally employed unlicensed workers who falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals. He also said that Rojas performed abortions in her clinics, violating the Texas Human Life Protection Act.
Texas was among the states to pass so-called trigger bans that would outlaw abortion if the Supreme Court revoked federal protections for the medical practices -- which it did once the landmark 1973 Roe vs. Wade ruling was overturned in the summer of 2022.
The Human Life Protection Act of 2021 outlaws abortions with very narrow exceptions for when the life of the pregnant person is at risk.
The Texas attorney general does not have independent authority under the law to prosecute criminal cases. According to Paxton's office, an extensive investigation into Roja's clinics was conducted by his Law Enforcement Division. Whittmore said he was working with Paxton's office "to see that this case is handled with all of the resources necessary to see that justice is done."
"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," Paxton said in a statement.
"Texas law protecting life is clear, and we will hold those who violate it accountable."
The suspects have had their bonds set at $200,000 for the charge of practicing medicine without a license and $500,000 for the abortion-related charge.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Trump says he thinks the government has a 'very easy case' against Kilmar Abrego Garcia
President Donald Trump on Saturday said that it wasn't his decision to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, back to the U.S. to face federal charges, saying the 'Department of Justice decided to do it that way, and that's fine.' 'That wasn't my decision,' Trump said of Abrego Garcia's return in a phone call with NBC News on Saturday. 'It should be a very easy case' for federal prosecutors, the president added. Trump added that he did not speak with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele about Abrego Garcia's return, even though the two men spoke about Abrego Garcia during an April meeting in the Oval Office. His remarks came after Abrego Garcia arrived back in the U.S. on Friday and was charged in an indictment alleging he transported people who were not legally in the country. The indictment came amid a protracted legal battle over whether to bring him back from El Salvador that escalated all the way up to the Supreme Court. Abrego Garcia's family and lawyers have called him a family man, while Trump and his administration have alleged that he is a member of the gang MS-13. The case drew national attention amid the Trump administration's broader push for mass deportations. After Abrego Garcia's deportation, lawyers for the Trump administration said he was deported in an 'administrative error,' as Abrego Garcia had previous legal protection from deportation to El Salvador. Still, the Trump administration did not attempt to bring Abrego Garcia back, even as the Supreme Court ruled that it had to 'facilitate' his return to the U.S. Democrats, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., had for weeks said that Abrego Garcia was denied due process when he was detained and deported, arguing that he should have been allowed to defend himself from deportation before he was sent to El Salvador. Trump on Saturday called Van Hollen, who went to visit Abrego Garcia in jail in El Salvador in April, a 'loser' for defending the man's right to due process. 'He's a loser. The guy's a loser. They're going to lose because of that same thing. That's not what people want to hear,' the president said about Van Hollen. 'He's trying to defend a man who's got a horrible record of abuse, abuse of women in particular. No, he's a total loser, this guy.' On Friday, Attorney General Pam Bondi alleged that Abrego Garcia 'was a smuggler of humans and children and women. He made over 100 trips, the grand jury found, smuggling people throughout our country.' In a statement Friday, Abrego Garcia's lawyer called Bondi's move 'an abuse of power, not justice.' This article was originally published on
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Dozens arrested in ICE raids leading to LA protests
June 7 (UPI) -- Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents used riot gear as they clashed with protestors during a series of raids in Los Angeles where they ended up detaining more than 40 people. Separate raids by ICE agents earlier this week at a Home Depot and two separate clothing outlet stores drew crowds of protestors on Friday. In some instances, the federal agents carried shields, military-style rifles and shotguns while conducting the raids. The department later confirmed it was executing four federal search warrants at the three locations. "Approximately 44 people were administratively arrested and one arrest for obstruction," a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson told KTLA TV. "The investigation remains ongoing, updates will follow as appropriate." Service Employees International Union leader David Huerta was among those detained. The SEIU local president was charged with obstruction of justice. "Federal agents were executing a lawful judicial warrant at a LA worksite this morning when David Huerta deliberately obstructed their access by blocking their vehicle. He was arrested for interfering with federal officers and will face arraignment in federal court on Monday," U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli wrote on X. "Let me be clear: I don't care who you are -- if you impede federal agents, you will be arrested and prosecuted. No one has the right to assault, obstruct, or interfere with federal authorities carrying out their duties," he wrote. People can be heard on video yelling at the crowds in Spanish, and telling them not to sign paperwork or speak to federal officials. By Friday evening, the Los Angeles Police Department declared unlawful assembly near the Civic Center in the northern part of the city's downtown core, issuing a city-wide alert that forced all officers to remain on-duty. LAPD officers were later forced to use tear gas and flash-bang grenades to disperse crowds in the city. At one point, protesters were reportedly throwing large pieces of concrete during the unrest The alert was cancelled around midnight Friday. "As mayor of a proud city of immigrants, who contribute to our city in so many ways, I am deeply angered by what has taken place," Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass wrote on X. "These tactics sew terror in our communities and disrupt basic principles of safety in our city. My office is in close coordination with immigrant rights community organizations. We will not stand for this."
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kilmar Abrego Garcia's return ‘wasn't my decision,' Trump says
President Donald Trump said Saturday that the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia — the Salvadoran man who was illegally deported in March — was not his decision. 'That wasn't my decision,' Trump said in an interview with NBC News. 'The Department of Justice decided to do it that way.' Abrego Garcia was flown back to the United States on Friday to face federal human trafficking charges in Tennessee, after prosecutors unveiled the indictment this week. It comes months after the Trump administration admitted it had mistakenly deported him — which the Supreme Court declared was illegal, ordering the government to "facilitate" his return — leading to an intense political and legal firestorm throughout the country over the ethics of the administration's mass deportation policy. 'It should be a very easy case' for federal prosecutors, the president told NBC News. Trump said that he did not talk to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele about Abrego Garcia's return. Despite the high court's order, Trump officials have for months resisted bringing Abrego Garcia back to the U.S., arguing it was out of their hands as he was in Salvadoran custody. 'There is no scenario where Abrego Garcia will be in the United States again,' Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem told lawmakers last month. The Trump administration repeatedly labeled Abrego Garcia as a violent gang member, which his family and lawyers have flatly denied and a federal judge labeled as 'a vague, uncorroborated allegation.' Lawyers for the administration called his deportation 'an administrative error,' but did not immediately facilitate his return, despite the Supreme Court instructing them to. Intense backlash followed, including Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) traveling to El Salvador to meet with him and demand his return. Republicans, in turn, bashed Van Hollen and Democrats for defending him. Abrego Garcia's lawyers have urged the public to treat the allegations with suspicion. 'They'll stop at nothing at all — even some of the most preposterous charges imaginable — just to avoid admitting that they made a mistake, which is what everyone knows happened,' Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, one of his lawyers, told reporters Friday. 'He's not going to be convicted of these crimes,' the lawyer added. 'There's no way a jury is going to see the evidence and agree that this sheet metal worker is the leader of an international MS-13 smuggling conspiracy.'
