Latest news with #LatinoamericanaMedicalClinic
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Midwife Is First Person Charged With Violating Texas' Extreme Abortion Ban
A Houston-area midwife is the first person to be charged in Texas with violating the state's extreme abortion ban, which outlaws the procedure under nearly all circumstances. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office announced the arrest of Maria Margarita Rojas on Tuesday, saying an investigation found she has been 'providing illegal abortions and illegally operating a network of clinics in the Northwest Houston area.' Rojas, who Paxton said went by Dr. Maria, was charged with the illegal performance of an abortion and practicing medicine without a license. The former is a second-degree felony in Texas and is punishable by up to 20 years in prison. 'In Texas, life is sacred,' Paxton said in a statement. '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. Texas law protecting life is clear, and we will hold those who violate it accountable.' An investigation found that Rojas owned and operated multiple clinics, including Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring. At these clinics, Paxton's office alleges, Rojas performed illegal abortions and employed 'unlicensed individuals who falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals to provide medical treatment.' Paxton's office did not share any details about possible poor health outcomes at any of Rojas' clinics. Phone calls to the three locations were not answered Monday. Rojas, who is listed as a licensed midwife by the Texas Department of Licensing & Regulation, has not spoken out publicly, either directly or through legal counsel. Holly Shearman of Tomball Birth Center told the Texas Tribune that Rojas worked part-time there providing prenatal care. She described Rojas as a devout Catholic and skilled midwife whose clinics largely served Spanish-speaking, low-income patients. 'I don't believe it for one second,' Shearman told the Tribune about the allegations. 'I've known her for eight years and I've never heard her talk about anything like that. I just can't picture Maria being involved in something like this.' Reproductive rights advocates have long warned that extreme abortion bans like the one in Texas ― which only allows abortion to save the life or health of the mother ― do not lead to fewer abortions, but rather to less safe ones. 'Banning abortion doesn't stop abortion; it just forces people to turn to illegal and sometimes unsafe methods and increases the inequality between the haves and have-nots, with a particularly devastating impact on people of color,' Planned Parenthood notes in its abortion fact sheet. 'We're Sitting Ducks': Abortion Providers Brace For Violence After Trump Limits Clinic Protections Texas Judge Fines New York Doctor For Prescribing Abortion Pills To A Woman Near Dallas Why RFK Jr.'s Promise On Medication Abortion Matters More Than You Think
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Midwife is arrested for performing abortions in Texas, AG announces
A Texas midwife has been arrested for owning and operating a network of illegal abortion clinics in the northeast Houston area. Maria Margarita Rojas, 48, was charged with the illegal performance of an abortion, a second-degree felony in Texas, the state attorney general announced on Monday. Rojas, a midwife known as 'Dr. Maria,' was taken into custody in Waller County. She is also charged with practicing medicine without a license. An investigation by Attorney General Ken Paxton's law enforcement division revealed that Rojas owned and operated multiple clinics under the names Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring. The facilities allegedly employed unlicensed individuals who 'falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals' in order to provide medical treatment, investigators said. Rojas herself also performed illegal abortion procedures in her clinics in direct violation of the Texas Human Life Protection Act, the AG's office said. In addition to the arrest, Paxton has filed for a temporary restraining order to shut down Rojas's network of clinics to prevent further illegal activity, he added. '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,' Paxton said in a statement. 'Texas law protecting life is clear, and we will hold those who violate it accountable.' Under the Texas Human Life Protection Act of 2021, abortion providers can receive civil penalties of at least $100,000 per violation. Online court records reflect the date of Rojas' offense as March 5, 2025. She was booked into jail on March 6 and was released on $10,000 bond on March 7, according to Waller County records.
The Independent
17-03-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Midwife is arrested for performing abortions across Texas, AG announces
A Texas woman has been arrested for owning and operating a network of illegal abortion clinics in the northeast Houston area. Maria Margarita Rojas, 48, was charged with the illegal performance of an abortion, a second-degree felony in Texas, the state attorney general announced on Monday. Rojas, a midwife known as 'Dr. Maria,' was taken into custody in Waller County. She is also charged with practicing medicine without a license. An investigation by Attorney General Ken Paxton 's law enforcement division revealed that Rojas owned and operated multiple clinics under the names Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring. The facilities allegedly employed unlicensed individuals who 'falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals' in order to provide medical treatment. Rojas herself also performed illegal abortion procedures in her clinics in direct violation of the Texas Human Life Protection Act, the AG's office said. In addition to the arrest, Paxton has filed for a temporary restraining order to shut down Rojas's network of clinics to prevent further illegal activity. '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,' Paxton said in a statement. 'Texas law protecting life is clear, and we will hold those who violate it accountable.' Under the Texas Human Life Protection Act of 2021, abortion providers can receive civil penalties of at least $100,000 per violation. Online court records reflect the date of Rojas' offense as March 5, 2025. She was booked into jail on March 6 and was released on $10,000 bond on March 7, according to Waller County records.
CBS News
17-03-2025
- CBS News
Texas midwife arrested for providing illegal abortions near Houston, state AG Ken Paxton says
A 48-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly providing illegal abortions and operating a network of unlicensed clinics in the Houston area, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced Monday. Paxton said that Maria "Dr. Maria" Rojas is a known midwife in Northwest Houston and was taken into custody in Waller County. During an investigation, the Attorney General's office found that Rojas owned and operated multiple clinics under the names Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge in Cypress, both northwest of Houston, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic in Spring, just north of Houston. The press release from Paxton's office stated that Rojas' clinics employed unlicensed people who "falsely presented themselves as licensed medical professionals." Rojas is also accused of performing illegal abortions, which violates the Texas Human Life Protection Act . "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 individual endangering the lives of women by performing illegal abortions are fully prosecuted," Paxton said. "Texas law protecting life is clear and we will hold those who violate it accountable." Following Rojas' arrest, Paxton's Healthcare Program Enforcement Division filed for a temporary restraining order to shut down all of the clinics Rojas owned and operated. Under the Texas Human Life Protection Act of 2021, the Texas attorney general has the authority to seek civil penalties of at least $100,000 per violation for the unlawful performance of an abortion. The Waller County district attorney referred Rojas' case to Paxton for prosecution.
