News Summary
Maria Margarita Rojas, a Houston midwife, has been arrested for conducting illegal abortions at unlicensed clinics. This marks a significant enforcement of Texas’ strict abortion laws. The arrest follows allegations that Rojas misled patients regarding their pregnancies and charged exorbitant fees for her services. Authorities have shut down her clinics amidst growing concerns about her practices. This incident raises questions about healthcare standards in the region.
Houston Midwife Arrested for Illegal Abortions
In a rather shocking turn of events, Houston has seen its first healthcare provider facing criminal charges under Texas’ strict abortion laws. Maria Margarita Rojas, a 49-year-old midwife, was recently arrested for running unlicensed birthing clinics and performing illegal abortions. This arrest marks a significant action taken by state authorities as they enforce the near-total abortion ban in Texas.
Misleading Medical Practices
According to court documents, Rojas allegedly misled a patient during a visit to her Clinica Waller Latinoamericana on March 3, 2025. While seeing a woman who believed she was four weeks pregnant, Rojas presented herself as a licensed gynecologist and advised her that she had only a 9% chance of carrying the pregnancy to term. Feeling pressured and anxious, the patient accepted the recommendation for what she thought was a legitimate medical treatment.
The situation quickly escalated when Rojas provided the patient with a pill, insisting it would result in bleeding, yet did not clarify what the medication was. The following day, the patient returned, receiving additional medication to aid the procedure. The woman later revealed that if she had known she was undergoing an abortion, she and her husband would have opted to continue the pregnancy.
Concerns Over Professionalism
Throughout these consultations, the patient expressed discomfort with Rojas’ behavior, mentioning odd questions and unclear communications regarding the ultrasound results. It paints a picture of a practitioner who potentially sidestepped professional standards—a shocking revelation for those seeking trustworthy care. Rojas charged the patient a hefty sum of $1,320 across three visits, raising alarms about the practices at her clinics.
Immediate Response from Authorities
The Texas Attorney General confirmed Rojas’s arrest, emphasizing that this crackdown marks the first criminal charges under Texas’ stringent laws since the ban was enacted. Alongside Rojas, an associate named Jose Ley was arrested for performing abortions and practicing medicine without proper licensing.
Additional Arrests and Investigations
The situation has become even more complex, as investigators also arrested Rubildo Labanino Matos, a 54-year-old nurse practitioner currently on probation, charging him with conspiracy to practice medicine without a license. Details from the investigation revealed that Rojas, along with Ley, allegedly conducted at least one abortion earlier in March 2025. Complaints made to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission led to the probe into Rojas’s clinics, with claims suggesting she was conducting abortions on women not facing any medical emergencies.
Legal Implications
A Reflective Moment for the Community
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Houston Chronicle
- Wikipedia: Abortion in the United States
- Hoodline
- Google Search: Texas abortion laws
- AP News
- Google Scholar: Texas abortion laws
- ABC13
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Abortion
- CBS News
- Google News: Maria Rojas Houston midwife
Author: STAFF HERE HOUSTON TX WRITER
HOUSTON STAFF WRITER The HOUSTON STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHouston.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Houston, Harris County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Art Car Parade, and Chevron Houston Marathon. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Houston Partnership and Houston Area Urban League, plus leading businesses in energy and healthcare that power the local economy such as ExxonMobil, Schlumberger, and Houston Methodist. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAustinTX.com, HERECollegeStation.com, HEREDallas.com, and HERESanAntonio.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Texas's dynamic landscape.
