Eight individuals in Houston have been indicted in a case involving alleged illegal abortions and unlicensed medical practices at clinics operated by Maria Rojas, a midwife who is facing felony charges. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's office stated that among those indicted were foreign nationals who purportedly worked under Rojas without proper licenses, as reported by NBC News. The eight arrests are connected to an investigation that highlights the stringent enforcement of the state's near-total abortion ban which was set in motion following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022.
The indictments come as part of an ongoing scrutiny into Maria Rojas's medical practices, with the Texas Attorney General linking her with operating a network of clinics where the illegal activities allegedly took place. Paxton's stance was made clear in a statement alleging that those involved will be held accountable, emphasizing that he intends to "protect innocent life and use every tool to enforce Texas’s pro-life laws," as highlighted by NBC News. Despite these allegations, Nicole DeBorde Hochglaube, Rojas's attorney, disputes the charges. "We’re still working vigorously to defend Ms. Rojas because we believe she did not commit any crimes," Hochglaube told CNN, adding that her team "have yet to receive any evidence" that supports the state's claims.
Details from an indictment obtained by KPRC 2 reveal that those indicted allegedly offered treatments, diagnosed patients, and even prescribed medicine without a license. Their connection to Rojas's clinics appears to have begun as early as 2020. Meanwhile, the attorney for one of the accused, Gerardo Aguero said via email, "I cannot discuss my client Gerardo Aguero until I learn more about the facts of his case, and right now I know only what is in the public record."
While Rojas is due back in court in January, her clinics have been shut down since April following a temporary injunction by a Waller County judge. Jenna Hudson, senior counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights, decried the move in a statement suggesting politically motivated bias. “This is an escalation of Texas' scare campaign against doctors and healthcare workers," Hudson said, as quoted by KPRC 2. She defended Rojas as a licensed midwife dedicated to her patients, critiquing the shutdown of clinics as an action that hinders healthcare access for vulnerable populations.
