The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated on October 17 that an illegal immigrant living with a judge in New Mexico and allegedly affiliated with the “Tren de Aragua” gang has pleaded guilty to charges of “illegal firearm possession and conspiracy to destroy evidence.” The individual, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, illegally entered the United States in 2023 during the Biden administration and was subsequently released.
Assistant Secretary of DHS, Tricia McLaughlin, revealed that Ortega-Lopez had entered the country illegally and was granted release. He was initially hired by Judge Jose Cano and his wife for home repairs and later allowed to reside in a guesthouse owned by them.
DHS disclosed that Ortega-Lopez had posted multiple images and videos on social media showing him carrying weapons, including an AR-15 rifle, a semi-automatic handgun, and ammunition.
The “Tren de Aragua” gang was designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department in February this year, with its members classified as “specially designated global terrorists.”
In January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) received an anonymous tip about Ortega-Lopez possessing firearms in New Mexico. The following month, he was arrested at Judge Cano’s residence.
According to DHS, Judge Cano allegedly used a hammer to destroy Ortega-Lopez’s phone and discarded the remains after his arrest because he believed it contained incriminating photos and videos.
DHS further mentioned that the judge’s wife, Nancy Cano, faces charges of conspiring to delete Ortega-Lopez’s Facebook account to destroy evidence.
McLaughlin criticized the Biden administration for releasing Ortega-Lopez and allowing him to enter the U.S., emphasizing that judges like Cano are sheltering criminal illegal immigrants which is unacceptable.
She highlighted, “Under the Trump administration, we no longer tolerate such behavior as we prioritize the safety of the American people.”
Efforts to reach Ortega-Lopez’s legal representative for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Cano, a registered Democrat who formerly worked at the Dona Ana County District Court in Las Cruces, New Mexico, resigned in March without specifying the reason. Court documents later revealed his involvement in the Ortega-Lopez case, leading to his suspension from judicial duties in the state.
Cano denied any knowledge of Ortega-Lopez’s alleged ties to the “Tren de Aragua” gang and stated that he would not endanger his grandchildren who lived on his property by allowing them to associate with such individuals.
Cano and his wife were arrested on April 24, accused of tampering with evidence in the Ortega-Lopez case. They were both released on a $10,000 bond on April 29, and the case is still pending.
The Trump administration not only cracked down on illegal immigration within the U.S. but also strengthened border security measures, resulting in a significant decrease in the influx of illegal immigrants.
DHS reported on October 7 that in the 2025 fiscal year (October 2024 to September 2025), there were 237,565 arrests of illegal immigrants at the Southwest border, the lowest since 1970, with the majority occurring during the Biden administration. Of the total arrests, 172,026 took place in the first 111 days of Biden’s presidency. Subsequently, during the 254 days of the Trump administration, arrests dropped to 65,539, showcasing the effectiveness of strengthened border security policies.
Rodney Scott, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the time, highlighted that the data from the 2025 fiscal year demonstrates the effectiveness of enforcing laws, leading to the lowest arrest numbers in over fifty years and the most secure border in modern history.