A woman the FBI says has twice been deported is back in federal custody after agents in Houston arrested her Friday. The FBI identified the suspect as Karen Paola Cabeza‑Magana, who also uses the name Karen Hernandez, and says she previously assaulted a pregnant woman and a family member. According to the agency, she is now in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as reported by FBI Houston.
What the FBI posted
In a brief public statement, FBI Houston said agents working with Customs and Border Protection arrested Cabeza‑Magana in Texas. The post described her as a foreign national illegally residing in the state and alleged that she assaulted both a pregnant woman and a family member. The FBI added that she had been deported twice and is now being held by ICE.
Federal enforcement in context
The Houston field office has been stressing its role in immigration-related enforcement as part of its broader investigative work. A year‑end summary on the office's website says its operations led to the detention of more than 430 foreign nationals in 2025, a snapshot of how federal law‑enforcement and immigration actions often overlap in the region, as outlined by FBI Houston. The office did not release more information about the specific operation that resulted in Friday's arrest.
Custody and next steps
Once someone is placed in ICE custody, the person is typically transported to a processing facility and put into removal proceedings while any other legal matters move forward, according to ICE. Public posts did not make clear whether criminal charges will be filed in this case.
What we know and what's missing
As of Friday evening, the FBI's post on X remains the main public account of the arrest. It identified Cabeza‑Magana by name, summarized the alleged assaults, noted two prior deportations, and stated that she is now in ICE custody, according to FBI Houston. Court records and filings were not publicly available at the time of the post, and this story will be updated as agencies release additional information.
