NEWS ALERT: Judge quietly resigns after alleged TdA gang member arrested on his property

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From the Albuquerque Journal: LAS CRUCES — Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano has resigned from the bench where he has sat since 2011.

Although his resignation letter, dated March 3, did not state his reason for stepping down, it followed shortly after a man awaiting deportation proceedings, accused by federal law enforcement of being affiliated with a Venezuelan gang, was arrested at Cano’s home.

Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, 23, faces federal firearm charges after Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant on Feb. 28 at a Las Cruces residence owned by Cano and his wife, Nancy.

Jose “Joel” Cano, a former police officer and Democrat, was first elected as a magistrate judge in 2010 and ran unopposed in three subsequent elections, winning his fourth term in 2022.

His last day as a judge was March 21.

Now, details are surfacing that Judge Cano was allowing multiple illegal aliens to stay in a cabin on his property, knew they possessed weapons, and even socialized with them.

The report explained that Ortega-Lopez, who has a criminal history and alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua Venezuelan gang, entered the U.S. illegally on Dec. 15, 2023 by jumping over a barbed wire fence near Eagle Pass, Texas. Border Patrol held Ortega-Lopez in custody for three days, but then released him on a “humanitarian parole” due to overcrowding of the detention facility.

Ortega-Lopez first went to El Paso, then later ended up in Las Cruces, New Mexico. The report explains:

Court documents state that he met Nancy Cano doing construction and handyman jobs, and accepted her offer to stay in a casita behind her home. In April 2024, Ortega-Lopez filed a request for immigration relief, listing the Las Cruces address as his residence.

Judge and Nancy Cano’s daughter, April Cano, reportedly lives in a neighboring residence.

Court filings state that agents recovered four firearms from a neighboring home owned by April Cano, who is identified in court filings as Nancy Cano’s daughter. A criminal complaint alleges Ortega-Lopez admitted to possessing and firing them, as seen in photos and videos posted on Facebook last December.

Ortega-Lopez posted multiple photos on Facebook, including some with Judge Cano, and others showing him with multiple firearms at a shooting range in Las Cruces.

Following an anonymous tip, ICE agents executed a search warrant on February 28 at a Las Cruces residence owned by Cano and his wife, Nancy, and arrested Ortega-Lopez, along with “other individuals described as roommates.”

Wild Lyman of Border Hawk News shared additional details, along with photos and videos which Ortea-Lopez had posted on social media.

The judge is seen with the group of illegal aliens in the photo below:

ICE/HSI arrested Cristhian Ortega-Lopez at a residence owned by Cano on February 28, 2025 following an anonymous tip. Ortega-Lopez entered the country illegally on 12/15/23 in Eagle Pass, TX and was released due to overcrowding at the Border Patrol Facility on 12/18/23. He is a Venezuelan national and authorities believe that based on tattoos, clothing apparel, and displaying of hand gestures that he is an affiliate of Tren de Aragua. Ortega-Lopez is charged by criminal complaint with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm or ammunition.
*Photo from ICE press release of Ortega-Lopez

Following his release into the interior, per D’Ammassa: “From there, prosecutors say Ortega-Lopez eventually moved to El Paso, where he roomed with five other people. Court documents state that he met Nancy Cano (Judge Cano’s wife) doing construction and handyman jobs, and accepted her offer to stay in a casita behind her home. In April 2024, Ortega-Lopez filed a request for immigration relief, listing the Las Cruces address as his residence.”

A review of Ortega-Lopez’s social media shows him shooting at a local range and holding multiple firearms. The page also shows photos of what appears to be Judge Cano and Ortega-Lopez socializing, including Ortega-Lopez passing a long rifle to both Judge Cano and Nancy.

*Video from Cristhian Ortega-Lopez FB allegedly depicts a rifle being handed to Nancy and Joel Cano

Per the court document, Ortega-Lopez was introduced to Nany Cano’s daughter, April Cano, who possessed a large number of firearms. Ortega-Lopez advised that April Cano allowed him to hold and sometimes shoot various firearms. Ortega-Lopez admitted that he recognized four firearms that had been seized from April Cano’s residence on February 28, 2025, following the execution of a search warrant.
*Photo HSI X Post

Ortega-Lopez remains in custody without bond at the Doña Ana County Detention Center awaiting a detention hearing.

Border Hawk will continue to investigate and report on this story. Thank you to @nmx575 for contributing to this story.

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