United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said it arrested a Filipina with multiple criminal convictions as part of its enforcement actions at the start of 2026.
ICE identified the woman as Karen Empaynado, a Philippine national convicted of burglary, grand theft, and battery in Deltona, Florida.
The agency did not disclose the date of her arrest, where she was taken into custody, or whether removal proceedings have begun.
The arrest was announced alongside other recent ICE actions involving noncitizens convicted of serious crimes.
In a statement, the agency said the operations target individuals it considers public safety threats and are part of routine immigration enforcement.
Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said ICE officers continued enforcement work through the holiday period and into the new year, emphasizing the agency’s role in carrying out immigration laws.
ICE did not provide additional details on Empaynado’s case or comment on whether she has legal remedies available under U.S. immigration law.
As of writing, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Philippine Embassy in the United States have yet to confirm the arrest.
In December, the Trump administration announced it had tripled to $3,000 a limited-time incentive for undocumented migrants who voluntarily leave the United States during the holiday season, while warning that those who do not avail of the offer face arrest and deportation.
The administration has prioritized preventing unlawful immigration and accelerating removals during President Donald Trump’s second term, including through a “self-deportation” program that offers cash assistance and travel costs for voluntary departure, according to an AFP report. With AFP
