Homeland Security probes judge's home after gang member found living there with guns

WASHINGTON (TNND) — At first glance, the videos and photos tell a story of a family that loved guns. But, who they shared those guns and their home with is raising questions about the homeowner, Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano.

Cano resigned last month in what appeared at the time to be a retirement. Though his letter did not give a reason for the resignation, it came shortly after a raid at his home in which Department of Homeland Security agents found Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an illegal migrant and Tren de Aragua member living there.

On Feb. 28, Ortega-Lopez was arrested and charged with being in the country illegally and possessing a firearm.

In an interview with The National News Desk on Tuesday, former ICE field office director John Fabbricatore said, “This judge's daughter is allowing this illegal alien to have access to firearms, which is unlawful under 18 U.S.C. 922(g). It is a felony for this illegal alien to be in possession of firearms."

Last year, an operation in New Mexico named "Operation Disruption" led to the rescue of 91 migrants being held in stash houses, many in Doña Ana County.

Fabbricatore spent time working in Doña Ana County, which he said is one of many border towns that are a draw for transnational gang members.

"The United States is a gold pot for them to be able to come into the United States, set up criminal networks, make money, transfer that money back down to Venezuela or transfer throughout the gang."

Court documents reveal he entered the country unlawfully in Dec. 2023, and a few months later had been hired by the judge’s wife, Nancy, who later offered him a place to stay in the residence she shared with her husband.

But most shocking, Homeland Security Investigators said he "displayed clear indicators of his association with the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua."

Not just his clothing or tattoos, but voicemails and text messages, they say, provide “significant evidence” for their case against him - one reason they asked that he remain behind bars.

Doña Ana County has been a hotbed of illegal immigration and drug trafficking, human smuggling for many, many years. To see that a judge would allow this to happen. It’s very concerning. It’s concerning. What else has the judge been doing? " Fabbricatore said.

What we don’t know is if Judge Cano or his wife will be charged with any crimes, like harboring an illegal immigrant or providing material support to a foreign terror group.

President Donald Trump designated TdA, as well as other gangs like MS-13, foreign terrorist organizations, in an Executive Order he signed on his first day in office.