3 arrested, including possible illegal immigrant, in Texas abortion scheme

Three people have been arrested in Texas for practicing medicine without a license, two of the three charged with performing illegal abortions, according to multiple media outlets.

A 49-year-old midwife and her employee were arrested after the Waller County district attorney obtained evidence the midwife ran four clinics that practiced abortions for cash, reported a local Houston news site.

Clinic owner Maria Margarita Rojas and her worker Jose Ley were arrested and charged with illegal performance of an abortion and practicing medicine without a license, said local Fox 26 Houston. 

Ley, 29, is a Cuban who first entered the United States illegally but was paroled under President Joe Biden’s blanket immigration policies, reported the National Review (NR). Those policies gave paroles to Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who entered the U.S. unlawfully. 

Ley entered the U.S. in 2022, said NR, and most paroles were valid for two years, raising questions about Ley’s current legal status. Additionally, President Donald Trump canceled any outstanding paroles when he was inaugurated. 

The Waller DA was tipped off to the abortion scheme by the office of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.  

“In this case we’re dealing with someone who is not licensed to practice medicine and who allegedly performed an abortion,” Waller County DA Sean Whittmore told local Fox 29. “This is a very conservative community where we hold life to be very sacred, and we also expect people to follow the law,” Whittmore added. 

The Texas Tribune reports that under Texas law the state Attorney General has no independent prosecutorial authority, but the Waller DA has asked the state AG to prosecute the case.  

“Individuals killing unborn babies by performing illegal abortions in Texas will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, and I will not rest until justice is served,” said Attorney General Paxton in a statement. “I will continue to fight to protect life and work to ensure that anyone guilty of violating our state’s pro-life laws is held accountable.” 

The statement said that the investigation is still ongoing.  

Previously, the investigation revealed that Rojas owned and operated multiple clinics under the names Clinica Waller Latinoamericana, Clinica Latinoamericana Telge, and Latinoamericana Medical Clinic. 

Employees of Rojas, who goes by the nickname “Dr. Maria,”‘” presented themselves as medical professionals, according to the Waller DA.

Neighbors are surprised, but at least one suspected something odd was happening.  

“There were rumors that immigration was here and that they were checking,” Meño Pedraza, a neighbor to the Waller clinic, told the local Fox affiliate. “But then they said that it was the FBI, and they found something wrong going and caught the big dogs.” 

There is no evidence that the FBI was involved in the investigation.  

A colleague of Rojas’ also expressed shock over the charges but said she doesn’t believe Rojas is guilty.  

“I don’t believe it for one second,” said Holly Shearman, a midwife who runs Tomball Birth Center, and employed Rojas, according to the Texas Tribune. “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.” 

In addition to Rojas and Ley, Rubildo Labanino Matos, 54, was arrested in the abortion scheme as he attempted to return from Cuba on March 8, said the Texas Attorney General’s office, which has asked for a restraining order on the clinics to prevent future abortions. 

Matos is a nurse whose professional credentials are suspended, according to Texas authorities.   

“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,” said Paxton. “Texas law protecting life is clear, and we will hold those who violate it accountable.” 

The Texas Tribune said that following the charges, Rojas and Ley were given $700,000 bonds by the Waller County judge, $500,000 for the abortion-related charges and $200,000 for the medical license charges. 

The state was seeking bonds of $1 million. 

One progressive attorney blamed Texas’ near-total abortion ban for the charges, instead of illegal abortion providers. 

“Just criminalizing abortions has resulted in the rise of all kinds of human misery from increased divorces, increased family sizes when they can’t afford to care for the kids they have now,” Brian Harrison, an organizer with Socialist Alternative and defense attorney, told Fox 26.  

Another local attorney predicted the case will end up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court, with yet another review of abortion laws.