Arrests and Charges
Former New Mexico Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested for allegedly tampering with evidence related to Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a suspected member of the gang living illegally in the
Joel Cano faces charges for destroying Ortega-Lopez's cellphone, while Nancy Cano is charged with conspiracy to tamper with evidence, accused of instructing Ortega-Lopez to delete his Facebook account.
Legal and Political Repercussions
The permanently barred Joel Cano from holding any judicial office, reflecting the serious nature of the allegations and the administration's stance on illegal immigration and gang activity.
U.S. Attorney General , under the Trump administration's zero tolerance policy, emphasized the crackdown on individuals aiding illegal immigrants and gang members, linking the Cano case to broader immigration enforcement efforts.