Illegal Immigrant Who Was Living With Judge Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession

The judge is alleged to have destroyed the illegal immigrant’s cellphone, believing it had incriminating images and videos.

A photo from 2024 of Cristhian Ortega-Lopez (L) in Judge Jose Cano's (2nd L) family home. Courtesy of the DHS

An illegal immigrant suspected of being a Tren de Aragua gang member and living with a judge in New Mexico has pleaded guilty to “illegally possessing firearms and conspiracy to destroy evidence,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in an Oct. 17 statement.

Cristhian Ortega-Lopez entered the United States illegally in 2023 under the Biden administration and was released into the country, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. Authorities allege that Magistrate Judge Jose Cano and his wife initially hired Ortega-Lopez for home repairs, later allowing him to live at their guesthouse.

Ortega-Lopez “posted numerous photos and videos of himself on social media accounts with weapons including an AR-15 style rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, and ammunition,” the DHS stated.

Tren de Aragua was designated as a foreign terrorist organization and a specially designated global terrorist group by the State Department in February.

In January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) received an anonymous tip about Ortega-Lopez living in New Mexico while possessing firearms, which culminated in his arrest at the judge’s house the following month.

After Ortega-Lopez was arrested, Cano allegedly smashed a cellphone belonging to Ortega-Lopez with a hammer and discarded the remains, “believing it contained incriminating photos and videos,” according to the DHS.

The judge’s wife, Nancy Cano, is accused of conspiring to delete Ortega-Lopez’s Facebook account to get rid of any incriminating evidence, the department stated.

McLaughlin said Ortega-Lopez should never have been released into the United States by the Biden administration.

“Judge Cano, a magistrate judge, takes activist judges to a whole new level—having this criminal illegal alien live in his home with him. Time and time again, we see sanctuary politicians and activist judges, like Jose Cano, shield criminal illegal aliens—in this case, a suspected GANG MEMBER, from arrest and removal from the country,” she said.

“This disgusting behavior is wildly unacceptable and is no longer tolerated under the Trump Administration. We are putting the safety of the American people first.”

The Epoch Times reached out to the legal representative for Ortega-Lopez for comment, but did not receive a response by publication time.

Cano, a registered Democrat, was serving in the Dona Ana County Magistrate Court in Las Cruces, the second-most populous city in New Mexico, before he resigned from the post in March.

On March 3, he issued a resignation letter, saying he would be on the bench until March 21. At the time, Cano did not clarify why he was leaving the post.

Later in early April, court papers filed by federal prosecutors brought to light Cano’s alleged ties with Ortega-Lopez.

On April 22, the New Mexico Supreme Court barred Cano from exercising judicial authority in the state.

“[Cano] shall never again hold, become a candidate for, run for, or stand for election to any New Mexico judicial office in the future,” the court ruled.

Cano’s Arrest

In an interview with KOAT-TV, Cano said he never knew about Ortega-Lopez’s alleged ties with Tren de Aragua.

“Their papers stated in the upper right-hand corner, ‘This Person is Not Subject to Removal.’ They each had a specific court date regarding their asylum hearing,” he said, referring to Ortega-Lopez and others living on his property.

“I have three grandkids that I love dearly. Their ages are 15, 8, and 6. There is no way in the world that I would have allowed my grandkids to have any contact with the boys if I had sensed danger.”

Mugshot photos of (Left) Nancy Cano and (Right) Jose Cano following their arrest on April 24, 2025. Courtesy of the Dona Ana County Detention Center

Cano and his wife were arrested on April 24, with authorities charging them with evidence tampering in connection with the case against Ortega-Lopez.

The Epoch Times reached out to a legal representative for the couple but did not receive a response by publication time.

On April 29, both individuals were released on $10,000 bonds. The case is ongoing.

Preventing Illegal Immigration

While the Trump administration has cracked down on illegal immigration inside the United States, it has also strengthened border security measures, resulting in a massive dip in the influx of illegal immigrants into the country.

In an Oct. 7 statement, the DHS said that 237,565 illegal immigrants were apprehended at the Southwest border in fiscal year 2025, the lowest since 1970.

Most of these encounters had happened under the Biden administration. Out of the total apprehensions, 172,026 took place during the 111 days of the Biden administration. Over the next 254 days during the Trump administration, this dipped to 65,539 apprehensions, showing the effect of strengthened border security policies.

“Fiscal Year 2025 shows what happens when we enforce the law without compromise,” Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott said at the time. “For too long, agents and officers were handcuffed by failed policies. Today they are empowered to do their jobs—and the result is the lowest apprehensions in more than five decades, and the most secure border in modern history.”