New Mexico Judge Resigns After Homeland Security | Political News

What on the earth was happening right here? On its face, the info appear fairly easy: an alleged Venezuelan gang member was nabbed by Homeland Security at a New Mexico decide’s home, and the decide promptly resigned. The accused Tren de Aragua member was apparently dwelling in a casita behind the decide’s home.

How did this fairly unorthodox dwelling state of affairs come about, and what have been these of us up to? Whatever it was, they’d lots of weaponry, as you’ll see.

Here’s what an Albuquerque outlet reported:

LAS CRUCES — Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano has resigned from the bench the place he has sat since 2011.

Although his resignation letter, dated March 3, didn’t state his cause for stepping down, it adopted 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 fees after Homeland Security Investigations executed a search warrant on Feb. 28 at a Las Cruces residence owned by Cano and his spouse, Nancy.

Although the decide didn’t explicitly say Cristhian Ortega-Lopez’s arrest was his cause for resigning, the timing can’t be ignored:

“Working with each of you has been a very rewarding experience for which I will remain eternally grateful,” Cano wrote in a letter addressed to third Judicial District Chief Judge Conrad Perea and courtroom employees. The letter declared his final day as March 21, which dockets show was additionally the final day he had hearings scheduled in courtroom.

Venezuelan Illegal With Alleged Tren de Aragua Ties Arrested for Possession of Firearm While Reportedly Living at Home of New Mexico Judge

Judge Jose “Joel” Cano abruptly resigned days after ICE HSI raid at his home in Las Cruces

Full story coming… pic.twitter.com/UvkrAC2PDT

— Border Hawk (@BorderHawkNews) April 18, 2025

The decide—a former police officer and Democrat—and his spouse and daughter appeared to get pleasure from firearms and capturing with the alleged gangbanger:

The particulars of Ortega-Lopez’s arrest and prior relationship with the Cano household are addressed in federal courtroom motions searching for Ortega-Lopez’s detention. In New Mexico federal district courtroom, prosecutors argue that Ortega-Lopez is a flight risk and a hazard to the neighborhood because of an alleged legal historical past, together with alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua gang in Venezuela.

Court filings state that brokers recovered 4 firearms from a neighboring home owned by April Cano, who’s recognized in courtroom filings as Nancy Cano’s daughter. A legal grievance alleges Ortega-Lopez admitted to possessing and firing them, as seen in images and videos posted on Facebook final December.

A video that’s going round on social media seems to show the decide, his spouse Nancy, and Cristhian bonding over a very giant gun certainly:

A review of Ortega-Lopez’s social media reveals him capturing at a native vary and holding a number of firearms. The web page additionally reveals images of what seems to be Judge Cano and Ortega-Lopez socializing, together with Ortega-Lopez passing a long rifle to each Judge Cano and Nancy.

*Video… pic.twitter.com/2rAzGjPI4k

— Wid Lyman (@Wid_Lyman) April 18, 2025

Related: Busted: Wanted Murderer and Tren de Aragua Gang Member Arrested in Georgia

Mexican Nationals Busted in Colorado Carrying 180,000 Rounds of Rifle Ammo

Nancy Cano’s daughter additionally allegedly allowed the suspect to fire her weapons:

Prosecutors say was subsequently launched to April Cano, “who possessed a large number of firearms” and “allowed him to hold and sometimes shoot various firearms,” allegedly together with rifles and a handgun tied to the social media posts.

Exhibits introduced in federal courtroom embody a social media image displaying Ortega-Lopez posing with the decide…

Ortega-Lopez stays in custody with out bond on the Doña Ana County Detention Center awaiting a detention listening to.

There’s nothing incorrect with the decide possessing firearms—the Second Amendment ensures that he’s within his rights. But capturing them with an alleged unlawful alien gangbanger? That could develop into more problematic for the Canos.

This is a bizarre story; there’s no different technique to say it. What kind of relationship was this? Was Ortega-Lopez relationship the daughter? Did Joel and Nancy simply suppose this was a stand-up man, and they need to give him a place to remain and go capturing with him?

For now, the decide is outwardly unemployed, and Ortega-Lopez is in custody. I hope more info comes out quickly, as a result of we need to know what was happening right here.

Update 4/20/25 10:15 p.m. EST – A reader identified that one other report indicated this creepy truth:

Other pictures from Ortega-Lopez’s cellphone obtained by Breitbart confirmed graphic pictures of a number of decapitated and mutilated our bodies.

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