Former Donna Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were taken into custody on Thursday, when federal agents raided his Las Cruce house.
Amid allegations of molestation allegations amid allegations, he harassed an alleged illegal foreign, Christian Ortga-Lopez, who is considered a member of the infamous train de Argua gang of Venezuela.
“Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens – which includes more than 600 members of the vicious train de Argua gang,” said Christie NoM, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security (DHS). “If you are illegally here and break the law, we will hunt you, arrest you and stop you. This is a promise.”
The arrest follows an incident of February 1 where Ortega-Lopez was caught at the Cano residence. Court documents suggest that they were initially hired by Nancy Cano to repair the house and later offered housing in the couple’s guesthouse.
New Mexico Supreme Court allegedly arrested TDA member at home
The exhibit filed on 13 March 2025, in this case the US V. Christian Ortega-Lopez, which was described as a “Christian with the Cano family in their home”. (US District Court for New Mexico district)
Investigators exposed the evidence connecting Ortega-Lopez to the Train de Argua gang, including gang-related clothes, tattoos, sound mail and text messages.
According to court documents, he illegally entered the US on 15 December, 2023, crossing the border near Texas without inspection or authority.
An HSI agent takes out former Donna Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano out of his home on Thursday, April 24, 2025. (Courtesy of KFOX14)
He was released on December 18, 2023, which is the process of removing pending due to congestion at the Seema Patrol facility. He was issued a notice, starting formal removal proceedings under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
New Mexico judge allegedly resigned after arresting TDA member at his home
Christian Ortga-Lopez in the cano family’s house from 2024 a Christmas photo, court documents state. (US District Court for New Mexico district)
In further investigation, four firearms were seized from the residence of the couple’s daughter April Cano. Ortega-Lopez was posted with weapons in social media posts, some of which he claimed was owned by April.
He is currently facing federal allegations to be an illegal foreigner in the possession of an firearm, violation of 18 USC (922 (G) (5). When guilty, he faces a jail of up to 15 years.
John Fabbricatore, director of the former ICE office office, told WPMI, “Doona ana county has been a hotband of human trafficking for many years, illegal immigration and drug smuggling, many, many years.” “To see that a judge will allow this to happen. It is very related. It is related. What is the judge doing?”
The exhibit filed on 13 March 2025, in this case the US V. Christian Ortega-Lopez shows the alleged train de Argua gang member to have dinner with family members. (US District Court for New Mexico district)
Judge Cano resigned from his judicial post in March and on Tuesday, the New Mexico Supreme Court gave a verdict preventing any judicial office in the state.
“People of New Mexico are tired of a system where powerful do not play with their rules.” “We demand real accountability for the relationship of Judge Cano for a gang -linked criminal and complete transparency that our judiciary is being kept for the same laws as the rest.” Is sufficient. “
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KFOX reported that Homeland Security Investigations have continued to lead the case.
Fox News’ Pillar Aryas and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.
