In Texas, 48-year-old midwife Maria Margarita Rojas has been arrested for performing illegal abortions in three clinics. Her indictment marks a turning point in the enforcement of the state’s ultra-restrictive abortion laws.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion in 2022, Texas has enacted one of the country’s strictest laws, banning abortion even in cases of rape or incest. The arrest of Maria Margarita Rojas, known as “Dr. Maria,” makes her the first person to face criminal charges for such actions since this legal shift.
Up to 20 Years in Prison…
According to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Rojas is being prosecuted for the “illegal practice of abortion” and “practicing medicine without a license.” She faces up to 20 years in prison. Currently held in Waller County, she is accused of running a network of underground clinics that provided women access to abortion—a procedure that is nearly impossible to obtain legally in Texas.
In this conservative state, abortion is only allowed when the pregnant woman’s life is in danger, a vague exception that creates serious enforcement challenges, according to women’s rights advocates. “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,” stated Ken Paxton, a staunch opponent of abortion.
Intensified Crackdown on Abortion Providers
This case is part of a broader crackdown on abortion across the United States. Other recent cases highlight authorities’ efforts to criminalize those who facilitate access to abortion.
For example, a New York doctor, Margaret Carpenter, was fined $100,000 for prescribing abortion pills remotely to Texas patients. She is now facing criminal charges in Louisiana.
These legal actions illustrate the strategy of conservative states: not only criminalizing those who perform abortions but also those who help women access them, even from afar.
Fewer and Fewer Alternatives
Given these restrictions, women in anti-abortion states have two main options: traveling to a state where abortion remains legal or obtaining abortion pills illegally. However, both options come with risks and high costs, deepening healthcare inequalities.
The arrest of Maria Margarita Rojas raises a crucial question: how far will the criminalization of abortion go in the United States? As legal battles and restrictions escalate, many women are left in an increasingly precarious situation.