Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced the arrest of Jose Manuel Cendan Ley this Monday, March 17. He is accused of performing an illegal abortion and practicing medicine without a license. Ley was a medical assistant at Clinica Waller Latinoamericana in Waller, Texas, where he allegedly helped carry out illegal procedures with Maria Margarita Rojas, who is already in custody on similar charges. According to the Texas Attorney General's office, Ley is a Cuban national paroled in the U.S. under policies from the Biden Administration.
Paxton's office issued a statement emphasizing the enforcement of the state's stringent pro-life laws, "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." Ley, who entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, is now caught up in the legal ramifications of the state's abortion laws, brought to light following an ongoing investigation by the Attorney General’s Law Enforcement Division, as per Texas Attorney General's office.
Additional information related to this crackdown on illegal abortion services includes the arrest of Rubildo Labanino Matos, apprehended on March 8 as he was entering the U.S. from Cuba. Matos, a nurse practitioner with a probated license by the Board of Nursing, is facing charges of conspiracy to practice medicine without proper licensure.
This extended inquiry by Paxton’s office into the practice of unlawful medicine has placed numerous individuals in its crosshairs. "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," Paxton declared, reflecting the state’s commitment to uphold its controversial legal stance on abortion. The Attorney General's Office has not yet shared details on the next steps for Ley or Matos, who are expected to face consequences for their alleged actions in a complex legal situation.
