New Mexico
Dem judge in New Mexico steps down after man with alleged Tren de Aragua ties found in his home
A New Mexico judge tendered his resignation last month after immigration authorities detained a suspect with alleged ties to the Tren de Aragua in his home during a late February raid.
Federal agents at the Department of Homeland Security had raided former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Jose “Joel” Cano’s home on Feb. 28 and arrested 23-year-old Venezuelan national Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, court documents reveal.
Authorities also confiscated four firearms from the Cano’s daughter’s residence, which they conducted after obtaining search warrants in response to social media evidence of Ortega-Lopez’s ties to Tren de Aragua, the ruthless Venezuelan prison gang.
Cano, a Democrat who served as a judge since 2011, made no mention of the arrest in his resignation letter, which came days later on March 3.
“Working with each of you has been a very rewarding experience for which I will remain eternally grateful,” Cano wrote in his resignation letter obtained by The Post. “All the best to everyone of you. I wish all of you a happy retirement once you are ready yourself.”
A spokesperson for New Mexico’s Administrative Office of the Courts explained that the state supreme court and the Third Judicial District Court, where Cano was based,” did not receive his resignation until March 31.
Revelations about the alleged gangbanger living in Cano’s residence were first made in court documents seeking to keep Ortega-Lopez in detention. The story has since gained traction in local media, including the Albuquerque Journal newspaper.
Ortega-Lopez began interacting with Cano’s family a little over a year ago after helping the judge’s wife install a glass door and doing other odd jobs for her.
By April of last year, he was booted from his apartment in El Paso that he shared with five others, which prompted Nancy Cano, the judge’s wife, to offer him lodging in the “casita” of their home in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
During his stay, Ortega-Lopez seemingly began to bond with the judge’s daughter, April Cano, “who possessed a large number of firearms” and let him hold onto some of them, per court records.
Ortega-Lopez, who illegally entered the US in 2023 but was released from a US Customs and Border Patrol facility due to overcrowding, admitted that he knew he wasn’t allowed to possess firearms due to his status as an illegal immigrant.
He had climbed over a barbed-wire fence near Eagle Pass, Texas, and copped to illegally entering the US, per court documents.
Authorities had received a tip about Ortega-Lopez and found images of him on social media with tattoos, with clothing and making hand gestures “commonly associated” with Tren de Aragua, court filings claim.
Prosecutors attached images of Ortega-Lopez’s tattoos and other evidence they are leaning on to accuse him of affiliation with Tren de Aragua.
“The Defendant is a danger to the community because he is a member of the United States designated Foreign Terrorist Organization Tren de Aragua and regularly associates with other members,” they wrote in a filing to keep him detained.
Ortega-Lopez was arrested alongside three other Venezuelan illegal migrants as part of an operation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations.
The Post was unable to make contact with Joel Cano for comment.
“The governor will appoint someone to fill the vacancy through the remainder of the judge’s unexpired four-year term that runs until the end of 2026,” New Mexico’s Administrative Office of the Courts spokesperson Barry Massey told the Post.
“Magistrate court judges are elective positions and they will be on the ballot in 2026.”
Ortega-Lopez is charged with being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm or ammunition. If convicted, he could face up to 15 years behind bars, according to the Justice Department.
SANTA FE, N.M. – Santa Fe County and Edgewood approved a new agreement and ordinance that secures ongoing fire and EMS services for Edgewood residents.
According to a joint announcement from the Town of Edgewood and Santa Fe County on June 19, the two governments negotiated and adopted a new Joint Powers Agreement and ordinance to keep the Santa Fe County Fire Department serving the town.
County and town representatives drafted the agreement together. The town adopted the ordinance unanimously at a special meeting on June 16, putting an end to weeks of uncertainty.
Santa Fe County District 3 Commissioner Camilla Bustamante said, “I believe we are all relieved to know that the people of Edgewood will continue to have the fire and EMS services necessary to protect their homes, their families, and their community. This community deserves nothing less.”
The announcement said the ordinance takes effect five days after final publication. The statement also said no further action or approval is needed to guarantee continued fire suppression, fire prevention, and EMS services for Edgewood residents.
Both governments noted the agreement will continue indefinitely unless either side ends it with five years’ notice.
New Mexico leaders are backing a bipartisan bill after 12 confirmed U.S. screwworm cases, including one case in a Lea County dog.
SANTA FE, N.M. – New Mexico leaders are backing a bipartisan bill after 12 confirmed U.S. screwworm cases, including one case in a Lea County dog.
New Mexico State Veterinarian Dr. Samantha Holeck said the parasite has spread to New Mexico, though officials say they have not found any human cases.
“This is also not a political issue this is a nationwide issue that we all need to address because it affects all warm blooded animals including humans,” Holeck said.
U.S. Reps. Gabe Vasquez and Teresa Leger Fernandez support the Protect America’s Herds Act.
The bill would create a grant program to train people to identify, treat, prevent and report screwworm. It would also support more livestock inspections and education for ranchers.
Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez said she heard concerns from tribal leaders about the cost of protecting cattle herds.
“I spoke with one of our tribal leaders today and they have cattle operation and they’re worried, and they’re talking about how much more money they’re having to pay to go make sure they check on their herds and there are extra costs,” Leger Fernandez said.
Funding would prioritize states and tribal communities most at risk for screwworm outbreaks.
State health officials said screwworm is not a food safety issue. They also said ranchers should stay alert but not alarmed.
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