In what can only be described as a jaw-dropping scandal, a Democrat judge in New Mexico has resigned after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested an alleged member of the ultra-violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang—inside the judge’s own home.
Former Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano stepped down last month after federal authorities arrested 23-year-old Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an illegal alien who not only lived on the judge’s property but was allegedly stockpiling firearms, flaunting gang tattoos, and posing for photos with Cano himself.
Ortega-Lopez entered the U.S. through Eagle Pass, Texas—ground zero for Biden-era border failures—before being released under the disastrous “catch and release” policy, which President Trump has since effectively ended. Ortega-Lopez eventually landed in New Mexico, where he embedded himself within the Cano family’s inner circle, even registering the judge’s address on his immigration documents.
According to federal prosecutors, Ortega-Lopez is linked to Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization so dangerous that the Trump administration officially labeled it a terrorist entity. The gang has exploded in influence under the Biden presidency, thanks to the open-border chaos that’s turned the southern U.S. into a revolving door for violent transnational criminals.
But here’s where things get even more disturbing: videos and social media images show Ortega-Lopez firing AR-15-style rifles, flashing gang tattoos, and proudly posing with an arsenal of weapons. In one video, the suspected gang member can be seen rapidly unloading rounds from a rifle outfitted with a suppressor, then quickly reloading and continuing to fire—military-style training with weapons he wasn’t even legally allowed to touch.
Even more horrifying, prosecutors allege they discovered images of unspeakable things you don’t even want to know about among Ortega-Lopez’s files—further reinforcing his connection to one of the most brutal cartels operating in the Western Hemisphere.
And the judge? Not only was he allegedly aware of Ortega-Lopez’s presence, but he and his wife reportedly allowed the illegal alien to work odd jobs, live on their daughter’s property, and use their home as his official mailing address.
So far, no charges have been filed against Cano or his wife, but the stench of complicity is thick. This isn’t just poor judgment—it’s potentially harboring a terrorist. And it should be a wake-up call.
This is the real cost of open borders. Not just overwhelmed shelters and strained services—but violent foreign criminals finding safe haven in the homes of public officials.
Leave a Comment