Fox News reports that Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano resigned, effective March 31, 2025, after an alleged Tren de Aragua (“TdA”) gang member was arrested at the judge’s Las Cruces, New Mexico, residential property pursuant to search warrants executed by agents with Homeland Security Investigations (“HSI”) Las Cruces.
On February 28, 2025, HSI executed two search warrants at the residence of April Cano, a property owned by Judge Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano. Agents took alleged Venezuelan TdA gang member Cristhian Ortega-Lopez and his roommates into custody, and seized four firearms.
Subsequently, U.S. Magistrate Judge Damian L. Martinez ruled that Ortega-Lopez “was not a flight risk or danger to the community” and was released on or about April 8, 2025. Nancy Cano then offered Ortega-Lopez her ‘casita’ in the back of the residence she shared with her husband, Judge Joel Cano, according to court documents.
The Fox News article may be read in full HERE.
My brothers and sisters, why would a sitting magistrate judge allow an admitted illegal immigrant and alleged TdA gang member to live on properties he owns, including a casita located next to his home, after being arrested by the HSI? TdA has been designated by the U.S. federal government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (“FTO”) from Venezuela and Judge Cano had to know this.
Something does not add up! Where is the legal integrity? Where is the truth in all of this?
Considering the longstanding, alleged deficiencies in New Mexico’s criminal justice system, including criminals immediately released from detention following arrest (multiple times); the turning of a ‘blind eye’ to illegal immigration; undocumented drivers who will not be able to acquire Real ID driver’s licenses; the massive DWI corruption scandal involving multiple law enforcement agencies in the greater Albuquerque area; the state’s love affair with all things marijuana; and the intentional lack of border enforcement to prevent illegal alien access, human smuggling operations, and/or terrorist gang members from crossing into New Mexico with drugs; etc.; why would a judge – of all persons – allow a TdA gang member to live and associate with him, even after being previously arrested by HSI?
Please pray for the State of New Mexico, lifting up all of our governmental leaders, including judges and law enforcement officers, that they would walk in godly wisdom, with integrity, and would not intentionally or unintentionally open doors to Satan’s devices, as the evil one desires to destroy the things of God, including societal order and peace in our lives.
The Bible tells us that Satan exists to steal, kill and to destroy. Satan hates you and me, but he especially hates Jesus!
John 10:10 (NKJV)
“The thief [the devil or Satan] does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Pray, my brothers and sisters!
Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV)
Confidence and Compassion in Prayer
“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
