Two Cuban Nationals Detained in Texas Over Illegal Abortions and Unlicensed Medical Practice

Texas authorities have taken into custody two Cuban immigrants accused of being involved in the performance of illegal abortions and practicing medicine without a license. Ken Paxton, the Attorney General of Texas, announced on Tuesday the arrest of these individuals as part of an investigation linked to midwife María Margarita Rojas. Rojas is alleged to have operated a network of clinics near Houston, conducting unlawful abortions.

On March 17, José Manuel Cendán Ley, 29, was arrested for performing an illegal abortion and practicing medicine without proper credentials. He served as a medical assistant at the Waller Latinoamericana Clinic in Waller County, where he aided Rojas in carrying out at least one unlawful abortion.

According to the Texas State Attorney's office, Cendán entered the United States illegally in 2022 and was later granted parole due to the immigration policies of President Joe Biden's administration. Court documents, as reported by the Associated Press, indicate that Cendán was initially detained on March 6, released on bail shortly after, and rearrested this past Monday.

Cendán hails from Manzanillo in the Granma province and studied at the University of Medical Sciences there, as noted on his social media profiles reviewed by CiberCuba.

Another Cuban, Rubildo Labañino Matos, 54, was also detained on March 8 upon returning to the U.S. from Cuba. Authorities identified Labañino as a practicing nurse, whose license is currently on probation by the Board of Nursing. He faces charges of conspiracy to practice medicine without a license.

The arrests of these Cuban nationals followed a thorough investigation led by the Texas Attorney General's Law Enforcement Division, which remains ongoing.

On Monday, Attorney General Paxton announced the arrest of Rojas, 48, who allegedly operated three clinics northwest of Houston performing illegal abortions. Known as "Dr. María," Rojas was charged with unlawfully conducting an abortion, a second-degree felony, and practicing medicine without a license. The statement disclosed that "these clinics unlawfully employed unlicensed individuals who falsely posed as licensed medical professionals to provide medical care."

Paxton emphasized, "Those who terminate unborn babies through illegal abortions in Texas will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and I will not rest until justice is served. I remain committed to protecting life and ensuring that anyone guilty of violating our state's pro-life laws is held accountable."

The Texas Human Life Protection Act, effective since 2021, bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy, except in cases where the patient has a life-threatening condition. This law ranks among the strictest abortion prohibitions in the United States.

Individuals convicted of performing illegal abortions in Texas face up to 20 years in prison, as reported by AP. Practicing medicine without a license can result in penalties of up to 10 years behind bars.

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which had recognized women's constitutional right to abortion and legalized it nationwide, sparking widespread protests across several states.