Democrats are getting a taste of their own medicine. They don’t like it one bit.
And now a Democrat judge has been forced to resign about shocking run in with illegal immigrant.
Unvetted Borders, Unseen Dangers: A Judge’s Resignation and a Gang Member’s Arrest
The unchecked flow of illegal immigration has once again cast a troubling shadow over American communities, this time in Las Cruces, New Mexico. A chilling case involving a suspected member of the notorious Tren de Aragua gang, arrested at the home of a sitting judge, reveals the dangerous consequences of porous borders. When immigration enforcement falters, the risks seep into the very heart of society, threatening public safety and eroding trust in institutions.
Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge Jose “Joel” Cano, a Democrat, resigned abruptly in March after federal authorities arrested Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a 23-year-old Venezuelan national, at his residence. According to the Albuquerque Journal, Ortega-Lopez is an illegal migrant suspected of ties to Tren de Aragua, a U.S.-designated terrorist organization and international criminal syndicate. His arrest, alongside three other Venezuelan illegal migrants, exposed a web of firearms violations and raised questions about how such individuals could integrate so closely with a judicial figure.
The Justice Department confirmed that in March, federal authorities executed search warrants targeting four illegal migrants in New Mexico for unlawful possession of firearms and related offenses. Ortega-Lopez was among those apprehended in a joint operation involving the Justice Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The operation uncovered a cache of loaded weapons, including pistols, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles—all illegal for undocumented migrants to possess under U.S. law.
“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 stated 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.” This revelation points to a critical failure in immigration processing, where dangerous individuals slip through the cracks due to overwhelmed systems.
Court documents obtained by the Albuquerque Journal detail Ortega-Lopez’s journey into the U.S. In 2023, he scaled a barbed-wire fence near Eagle Pass, Texas, entering the country illegally. Border Patrol took him into custody, but the Biden-era border crisis, marked by unprecedented levels of illegal crossings, strained detention facilities to their limits. Overcrowded and under-resourced, immigration officials released Ortega-Lopez into the U.S., a decision that would later haunt Las Cruces.
Once in the country, Ortega-Lopez crossed paths with Nancy Cano, the wife of Judge Cano. She offered him a place to stay in a “casita” behind their Las Cruces home, a seemingly charitable act with dire implications. By April 2024, Ortega-Lopez listed the Cano residence as his home address in a request for immigration relief, embedding himself further into the community under the radar of scrutiny.
The Justice Department’s investigation uncovered disturbing evidence of Ortega-Lopez’s activities. “Social media evidence showed Ortega-Lopez in possession of multiple firearms at a shooting range in Las Cruces,” the department noted. Prosecutors revealed that April Cano, Nancy’s daughter, introduced Ortega-Lopez to her collection of firearms, allowing him to handle and even shoot various weapons. This access to guns by a suspected gang member underscores the peril of unchecked immigration, where dangerous individuals can exploit trusting communities.
The arrests in Las Cruces were sparked by an anonymous tip, leading ICE to apprehend Ortega-Lopez on March 14, as confirmed by an agency social media post. The operation not only dismantled a small network of armed illegal migrants but also prompted Judge Cano’s swift resignation. In his March 3 letter to 3rd Judicial District Chief Judge Conrad Perea and court staff, Cano wrote, “Working with each of you has been a very rewarding experience for which I will remain eternally grateful.” The former police officer, who had served as a magistrate since 2010, offered no public explanation for his departure, but the timing speaks volumes.
The case of Ortega-Lopez is a stark reminder of the ripple effects of lax border policies. Tren de Aragua, known for its violent operations across Latin America, has increasingly infiltrated the U.S., capitalizing on vulnerabilities in immigration enforcement. The gang’s suspected presence in a judge’s home—a symbol of law and order—illustrates how deeply these threats can penetrate when borders are left unsecured.
If convicted, Ortega-Lopez and his three co-conspirators face up to 15 years in prison, according to the Justice Department. They remain in custody awaiting trial, but the damage to public confidence is already done. The incident raises troubling questions about vetting processes for illegal migrants and the oversight of those released into communities. How many others like Ortega-Lopez are living among unsuspecting Americans, armed and emboldened by a system too strained to act?
The Las Cruces case is not an isolated incident but a symptom of a larger crisis. The Biden administration’s handling of the border led to millions of apprehensions at the southern border, with many migrants released into the U.S. while awaiting immigration hearings that can take years. This backlog creates opportunities for criminal elements to exploit, as seen in the proliferation of gangs like Tren de Aragua, which thrive in environments of lax enforcement.
Judge Cano’s resignation and Ortega-Lopez’s arrest serve as a wake-up call. When illegal immigration goes unchecked, the consequences are not abstract—they are real, immediate, and dangerous. Communities like Las Cruces bear the brunt, forced to confront the fallout of policies that prioritize volume over vigilance. The presence of firearms in the hands of suspected gang members, facilitated by connections within a judge’s household, is a chilling example of what happens when the rule of law is stretched too thin.
To prevent future incidents, the U.S. must prioritize robust border security and rigorous vetting of those who enter illegally. The safety of American citizens depends on a system that can distinguish between those seeking opportunity and those bringing danger. Until then, stories like that of Judge Cano and Cristhian Ortega-Lopez will continue to emerge, each one a testament to the high cost of an insure border.
NEW: Democrat Judge from New Mexico Abruptly Resigns After Suspected Tren de Aragua Gang Member Is Arrested for Firearm Possession at His Residence
Judge Jose “Joel” Cano reportedly submitted a letter of resignation in March.
In February, HSI Venezuelan national El Paso… pic.twitter.com/w0QG5WW5mm
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) April 19, 2025
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