Former New Mexico Judge arrested for harboring illegal alien
Former Judge Joel Cano is taken into custody and assisted to the ride to his next stop in this image. (KFOX14)
Federal agents took Joel Cano, former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge, into custody. Also taken custody was Cano’s wife, Nancy Cano. Both were charged with harboring an illegal alien, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez. He is suspected of being a member of Tren de Aragua. Lopez was taken into custody back in February, he was apprehended at the former judge’s residence.
From Fox News:
The arrest follows a February incident where Ortega-Lopez was apprehended at the Cano residence. Court documents reveal that he was initially hired by Nancy Cano for home repairs and later offered accommodation in the couple’s guesthouse.
Investigators uncovered evidence linking Ortega-Lopez to the Tren de Aragua gang, including gang-related clothing, tattoos, voicemails and text messages.
According to court documents, he unlawfully entered the U.S. on Dec. 15, 2023, by crossing the border near Eagle Pass, Texas, without inspection or authorization.
He was released on Dec. 18, 2023, pending removal proceedings due to overcrowding at the Border Patrol facility. He was issued a Notice to Appear, initiating formal removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Further investigation led to the seizure of four firearms from the residence of April Cano, the couple’s daughter. Ortega-Lopez was found in social media posts posing with weapons, some of which he claimed were owned by April.
He is currently facing federal charges for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm, a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(5). If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison.
Additional Reading:
Baehr, J. (2025, April 25). Ex-New Mexico judge, wife arrested for allegedly harboring illegal Tren de Aragua member. Fox News. Link.
The former judge apparently destroyed Ortega-Lopez’s cell phone which had images of decapitated victims:
?This is INSANE: AG Bondi announces that the New Mexico judge who has been arrested admitted to
– Taking the TDA Member’s cell phone and destroyed it to protect him & destroy evidence which had images of decapitated victims
– Gave the TDA member rifles pic.twitter.com/uV4fjVsAIH
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) April 25, 2025
Category: "Teh Stoopid", Illegal Immigrants, Society
