In significant developments that resonate with MAGA supporters frustrated by judicial interventions against President Trump’s initiatives, a Democratic judge in New Mexico has stepped down following the arrest of an alleged member of the Tren de Aragua gang residing in his home.
To provide context, President Trump has labeled Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization. He stated, ‘Tren de Aragua (TdA) is recognized as a Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, many of whom have unlawfully entered the United States, engaging in irregular warfare and hostile actions against the nation.’
In a proclamation made in mid-March, he elaborated, ‘TdA collaborates with Cártel de los Soles, a narco-terrorism group backed by the Nicolas Maduro regime in Venezuela, committing heinous crimes such as murder, kidnapping, extortion, and trafficking in humans, drugs, and weapons.
TdA is involved in mass illegal migration to the United States, aiming to harm American citizens, jeopardize public safety, and support the Maduro regime’s efforts to destabilize democratic countries in the Americas, including the United States.’
The individual arrested was linked to Tren de Aragua, having been apprehended while attempting to cross the border near Eagle Pass, Texas. However, he was subsequently released on immigration parole due to overcrowding and later resided with the Democratic judge.
The Albuquerque Journal reports that court documents indicate he met Nancy Cano, the judge’s wife, while performing construction and handyman work, and accepted her invitation to stay in a small guest house behind her residence.
In April 2024, Ortega-Lopez submitted a request for immigration relief, listing the Las Cruces address as his home.Judge Jose “Joel” Cano, a former police officer who ascended to the bench in 2011, has submitted his resignation letter, as reported by Border Hawk News, on March 3, 2025.
This resignation came shortly after Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) El Paso arrested the illegal alien gang member, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, at a property owned by Judge Cano in Las Cruces.
Wild Lyman, a reporter and founder of Border Hawk News, shared on X that a magistrate judge from Doña Ana County has unexpectedly resigned amid suspicious circumstances and a potential link to an alleged Tren de Aragua affiliate.
Lyman further noted that Judge Cano confirmed his resignation to a source in Las Cruces but refrained from providing additional comments. On April 1, 2025, a clerk from the judge’s office informed @BorderHawkNews that he had ‘retired.’
In a subsequent post, Lyman elaborated on the arrest of Ortega-Lopez, stating that he was apprehended at Cano’s residence on February 28, 2025, following an anonymous tip. Ortega-Lopez had illegally entered the United States on December 15, 2023, in Eagle Pass, Texas, and was released due to overcrowding at the Border Patrol Facility on December 18, 2023.
Lyman indicated that Ortega-Lopez, a Venezuelan national, is suspected of being affiliated with Tren de Aragua based on his tattoos, clothing, and hand gestures. He faces charges for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm or ammunition. Additionally, Lyman mentioned that a review of Ortega-Lopez’s social media revealed images of him shooting at a local range and handling various firearms, along with photos suggesting social interactions between Judge Cano and Ortega-Lopez, including instances of Ortega-Lopez passing a long rifle to the judge.
