The New Mexico Supreme Court permanently banned former Judge Jose 'Joel' Cano from judicial office after an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member was arrested at his residence.
Cano, a Democrat who had served on the bench since 2011, had previously written a letter of resignation within days of 23-year-old Cristhian Ortega-Lopez's arrest at a small home owned by him and his wife, Nancy.
A Justice Department press release indicates an investigation began in January of 2025, courtesy of an anonymous tip, that an illegal alien with suspected ties to the violent Tren de Aragua gang had been "residing with other illegal aliens in Las Cruces."
Upon execution of a search warrant at the Cano family location, Ortega-Lopez was found to have possessed and used "multiple firearms," several of which he could be seen with in social media postings.
The release states that he is now "charged by criminal complaint with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm or ammunition." He faces 15 years in prison.
His roommates were also arrested.
Weird: New Mexico Judge Resigns After Homeland Security Finds Tren De Aragua Member at His Residencehttps://t.co/1miaizSo4A
— RedState (@RedState) April 21, 2025
READ MORE: New Mexico Judge Resigns After Homeland Security Finds Tren De Aragua Member at His Residence
Court documents reviewed by the Albuquerque Journal show Ortega-Lopez admitted to "possessing and firing" multiple firearms recovered from a home owned by April Cano, who is identified as Nancy Cano's daughter.
April is identified as the owner of the weapons, which included rifles and a handgun. It is illegal for any illegal alien to possess a firearm in the United States.
The alleged gangbanger entered the United States illegally in December, 2023 through Eagle Pass, Texas, before navigating to El Paso. From there, he met Nancy Cano while installing a glass door for her. She subsequently invited him to stay in a casita behind her home in Las Cruces, less than an hour north of El Paso.
A casita is a small, self-contained home, typically unattached from the main house but on the same property. Ortega-Lopez listed it as his residence on a request for immigration relief filing.
Just a few days after the search warrant execution and arrests, Judge Cano sent a resignation letter to the court staff. It was reportedly not received until March 31st.
“Working with each of you has been a very rewarding experience for which I will remain eternally grateful,” he wrote, though he makes no specific allusion to the legal matter at his residence.
ICE arrested Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an alleged TdA affiliate, following an anonymous tip. Thank you, anonymous tipster — we appreciate you!
— U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (@ICEgov) March 15, 2025
He’s been charged with possession of a firearm or ammunition. He’s safely in custody.
💻Learn more: https://t.co/V73JPFTBS8 pic.twitter.com/aJ52UKtvnH
Judge Cano's last day on the bench was March 21st, and now, just over one month later, the Supreme Court of New Mexico has effectively banned him from any judicial activities. The man can't even officiate at weddings.
Cano "can never hold a judicial office again, be a candidate for a judicial office, and cannot exercise any judicial authority in the state, including officiating at weddings," a spokesman for the Administrative Office of the Courts told Fox News Digital.
Earlier this year, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy sparked controversy after making a wild admission of sorts in an interview, claiming that he harbored an illegal immigrant in his home.
He taunted federal officials by saying, "Good luck" in trying to come and get her.
Ortega-Lopez remains in custody pending trial. It has not been scheduled at this time.
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