Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife Nancy Cano were taken into custody Thursday after federal agents stormed Las Luces’ home.
Two accusations of evidence that they are tampering with alleged harboring Christian Ortega Lopez, an illegal alien who is also considered a member of Venezuela’s infamous Tren de Aragua gang.
“Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens, including more than 600 members of the malicious Tren de Aragua gang,” said Christie Noem, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“If you’re illegally here and breaking the law, we’ll corner you, arrest you, lock you in. That’s a promise.”
The arrest follows the February incident in which Ortega Lopez was arrested at Cano’s residence.
Court documents reveal that he was first hired by Nancy Cano for repairs to the house and later provided accommodation to the couple’s guest house.
Investigators revealed evidence linking Ortega Lopez to the Tren de Aragua gang, including gang-related clothing, tattoos, voicemail and text messages.
He illegally entered the United States on December 15, 2023, without inspection or permission, across the border near Eagle Pass, Texas.
He was released on December 18, 2023, with overcrowding removal procedures at Border Patrol facilities pending.
He was issued a notice of appearance and began formal removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Further investigation led to the seizing of four firearms from the residence of the couple’s daughter, April Cano.
Ortega Lopez was discovered in a social media post posing with a weapon, but some of them claimed they were owned by April.
He is currently facing federal charges that he is an illegal foreigner in possession of a firearm, a violation of 18 USC §922(g)(5).
If convicted, he will face up to 15 years in prison.
“Doña Ana County has been a hotbed of illegal immigration, drug trafficking and long-standing human smuggling,” former director of the Ice Field Office, John Fabricatore told WPMI.
“To see the judges allow this. It’s very concerning. It’s concerning. What else was the judge doing?”
Judge Kano resigned from his judicial position in March, and on Tuesday the New Mexico Supreme Court issued a ruling with the permanent exclusion of holding the state’s judicial office.
“New Mexico people are tired of the system where strong people don’t play by their own rules,” Amy Barrera, chairman of the Republican Party in New Mexico, told Las Cruz Sun News.
“We demand true accountability for Judge Kano with criminals who belong to the gang and for full transparency into how our judiciary is held in the same law as us. That’s enough.”
KFOX reports that the Homeland Security investigation continues to lead the lawsuit.
Pilar Arias from Fox News contributed to this report.
