Democrat Judge Resigns After Suspected Tren De Aragua Gangbanger Arrested At His Home

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