Perp-Walked: Democrat Judge Cuffed and Arrested After ICE Finds Violent Gang Member Living in His Home
A former New Mexico county judge and his wife were cuffed and taken into federal custody Thursday after authorities discovered they were housing a Tren de Aragua member.
Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, had their home raided by Immigration and Customs Enforcement earlier this week.
As reported on Tuesday, the illegal alien entered the U.S. via Eagle Pass, Texas, before being released under Joe Biden’s “catch and release” policy, under which migrants and asylum seekers are given court dates before being transported into the U.S. interior.
Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, 23, eventually made his way to New Mexico.
Federal prosecutors in the District of New Mexico allege that Ortega-Lopez has ties to the ultra-violent Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua.
Now, the former judge and his wife have been arrested.
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He also faces charges of evidence tampering, while his wife is charged with conspiracy to tamper.
Cano had resigned from his position as a Doña Ana County magistrate judge in March following allegations that he and his wife were housing a Venezuelan illegal immigrant believed to be a member of the transnational Tren de Aragua gang.
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Cano was barred from ever holding judicial office in the state again, according to a ruling from the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Ortega-Lopez, who was initially apprehended in February, was seen brandishing four firearms in social media posts. Those weapons were later seized at the home of April Cano, the couple’s daughter.
He faces up to 15 years in prison for being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.
Ortega-Lopez claimed the guns belonged to the Cano daughter.
Nancy Cano stated that the alleged TdA member was staying in the couple’s guesthouse after being hired to perform repairs.
“Doña Ana County has been a hotbed of illegal immigration and drug trafficking, human smuggling for many, many years,” former ICE Field Office Director John Fabbricatore said.
“To see that a judge would allow this to happen. It’s very concerning. It’s concerning. What else has the judge been doing?”
The Republican Party of New Mexico praised the arrest.
“The people of New Mexico are tired of a system where the powerful don’t play by their own rules,” said Amy Barela, chairwoman of the state party.
“We demand real accountability for Judge Cano’s connection to a gang-affiliated criminal and full transparency on how our judiciary is being held to the same laws as the rest of us. Enough is enough.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem noted that the arrest was part of the Trump administration’s ongoing efforts to eradicate Tren de Aragua’s influence.
“Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens—including more than 600 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang,” Noem said in a statement.
“If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up. That’s a promise.”
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