Federal prosecutors in Texas announced several arrests in the Houston area as part of an ongoing enforcement initiative targeting foreign nationals who allegedly returned to the United States after removal and later committed additional crimes.
The arrests were carried out under Operation Pick-Off, an enforcement effort led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas in coordination with federal immigration authorities and the FBI.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, those taken into custody include Guatemalan nationals Karen Paola Cabeza-Magana, also known as Karen Hernandez, 29, and Julio Gonzalez-Portillo, 54; Mexican nationals David Rodriguez Solis, 52, and Jose Garcia Zamora, 39; and Salvadoran national Jose Mario Alvarado, also known as Julio Mario Alvarado, 57.
“Operation Pick-Off” expands to Houston with arrests of foreign nationals who committed crimes while unlawfully living in the U.S.#Houston #OperationTakeBackAmerica https://t.co/BT29kUjcxS pic.twitter.com/N024l0RhJy
— US Attorney SDTX (@USAO_SDTX) March 5, 2026
Federal officials said the individuals remain in custody and face charges related to illegal reentry into the United States after removal.
Authorities said the individuals had previously been deported from the United States and later returned. Prosecutors also said the individuals had prior state convictions involving offenses such as assault, aggravated assault of a family member, driving under the influence, and narcotics violations. At the time of the federal arrests, officials said the individuals were serving probation or other forms of supervision related to those state cases.
U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei said the initiative focuses on individuals who allegedly violated federal immigration law after previously being removed from the country.
“Our office created Operation Pick-Off based upon an extremely simple concept—that a state probation sentence should not be a sanctuary from federal immigration laws,” Ganjei said. “Take note, the Southern District of Texas is not a safe harbor for those who enter the United States illegally and commit crimes against our citizens.”
“Operation Pick-Off” results in nearly 80 criminal alien arrests throughout the Rio Grande Valley#McAllen #RGV #BorderSecurity #OperationTakeBackAmerica https://t.co/i1j6jJ5XCd pic.twitter.com/9Jvz007pQw
— US Attorney SDTX (@USAO_SDTX) August 25, 2025
The investigation involved multiple federal agencies. FBI Houston Special Agent in Charge Jason Hudson said the bureau is using investigative and intelligence resources to identify individuals who may have returned to the United States illegally after prior deportations.
“Through Operation Pick-Off, FBI Houston is partnering with the Department of Homeland Security and federal prosecutors to remove these alleged offenders from our Texas communities,” Hudson said.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said the operation focuses on individuals who have previously been deported and later committed criminal offenses while living unlawfully in the United States.
Gabriel Martinez, acting field office director for Enforcement and Removal Operations in Houston, said cooperation between federal agencies allows investigators to identify and arrest individuals who have returned after removal.
“By working together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to expand a commonsense operation like this to the Houston area, we can bring an end to this lawlessness and ensure these alleged criminal aliens are held accountable for their actions,” Martinez said.
Operation Pick-Off began in August 2025 in the Rio Grande Valley and has since expanded to additional parts of the Southern District of Texas, including Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery counties. Officials said the initiative focuses on individuals who are on state probation or supervision while also facing potential federal immigration violations.
Federal authorities said enforcement actions are expected to continue as investigators conduct additional arrests and prosecutions connected to the operation.
The cases are being prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys in the Houston Division. Investigations were conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations and the FBI Houston Field Office, with assistance from Homeland Security Investigations.
Federal officials said the operation is part of a broader Department of Justice initiative aimed at targeting transnational criminal activity and immigration-related offenses tied to public safety concerns.
