A New Mexico Democrat judge resigned after an illegal migrant suspected of being a Tren de Aragua gang member was arrested at his residence.
Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge Jose “Joel” Cano resigned from the bench shortly after Cristhian Ortega-Lopez was arrested by federal authorities in March, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Ortega-Lopez, a 23-year-old Venezuelan national, is accused of being an illegal migrant in possession of firearms and having affiliations with Tren de Aragua, an international criminal syndicate and U.S.-designated terrorist organization.
The Justice Department in March confirmed federal authorities executed search warrants on four different illegal migrants in New Mexico for unlawful possession of firearms and other related offenses. Ortega-Lopez and three other Venezuelan illegal migrants were arrested in the operation.
“Ortega-Lopez, an illegal alien from Venezuela suspected of being affiliated with Tren de Aragua, was allegedly residing with other illegal aliens in Las Cruces and had been in possession of firearms,” the Justice Department said in a press release. “The investigators determined Ortega-Lopez had entered the U.S. illegally on December 15, 2023, and was released pending removal proceedings.”
“Social media evidence showed Ortega-Lopez in possession of multiple firearms at a shooting range in Las Cruces,” the Justice Department continued.
The arrests — which were executed as part of a joint operation between the Justice Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — uncovered multiple loaded firearms in their possession, including pistols, revolvers, shotguns and rifles. It is unlawful for any illegal migrant to be in possession of a gun in the U.S.
ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Daily Caller News Foundation, but a social media post on March 14 from the agency confirmed his arrest by ICE agents following an anonymous tip.
“Working with each of you has been a very rewarding experience for which I will remain eternally grateful,” Cano wrote in a resignation letter, dated March 3 and addressed to 3rd Judicial District Chief Judge Conrad Perea and court staff, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Cano, who formerly worked as a police officer, served on the bench since he was first elected in 2010.
Ortega-Lopez entered the U.S. in 2023 by scaling a barbed-wire fence near Eagle Pass, Texas, and was placed into Border Patrol custody, according to court documents obtained by the Albuquerque Journal. Under pressure from the incredible levels of illegal immigration during the Biden-era border crisis, immigration officials released Ortega-Lopez into the U.S. due to overcrowding at detention facilities.
The Venezuelan national eventually met Nancy Cano, Joel Cano’s wife, and he accepted her offer to stay in a “casita” behind their home in Las Cruces, New Mexico, according to court documents obtained by the Albuquerque Journal. Ortega-Lopez in April 2024 filed a request for immigration relief and listed Cano’s Las Cruces address as his home.
Prosecutors further say that Ortega-Lopez was introduced to April Cano, Nancy’s daughter, who “possessed a large number of firearms” and “allowed him to hold and sometimes shoot various firearms.” In its press release, the Justice Department revealed social media evidence allegedly showing him in possession of firearms.
If convicted, Ortega-Lopez and the other three illegal migrants each face 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department. They will remain in custody pending trial.
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