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Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Category: Crime
April 30, 2025
Crime
Immigration

New Bill Targets Fentanyl Dealers with Felony Murder Charges.

PULSE POINTS:

❓What Happened: New legislation was introduced in both the House and Senate to allow charging fentanyl dealers with felony murder if their distribution results in death.

👥 Who’s Involved: The bill was introduced by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX).

📍 Where & When: The bill was unveiled on Tuesday, marking National Fentanyl Awareness Day, and will proceed to committees for markup and consideration in both chambers.

💬 Key Quote: “If you sell the drug and take an innocent life, justice will be delivered,” said Representative Tony Gonzales.

⚠️ Impact: The legislation aims to increase penalties for fentanyl dealers, with the crisis having claimed approximately 280,000 American lives since 2021.

IN FULL:

New legislation seeks to hold fentanyl dealers accountable for the dangerous drug they peddle by allowing them to be charged with felony murder if their distribution results in death. Introduced simultaneously in the House and Senate, the proposed law aims to increase the severity of punishment for those involved in fentanyl trafficking. Under existing U.S. law, such offenses currently carry a minimum 20-year prison sentence but are not prosecuted as murder cases.

The bill, titled the Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act, is being sponsored by Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Representative Tony Gonzales (R-TX). This legislative measure coincides with National Fentanyl Awareness Day and now heads to committees in both chambers for further consideration before moving to the House and Senate floors.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), fentanyl has resulted in the deaths of about 280,000 Americans since 2021. The rising fentanyl crisis has been linked to increased illicit drug trafficking across U.S. borders. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reports that around 64,000 pounds of fentanyl, which is enough to lethally dose billions of people, have been confiscated at the southern border.

“If you sell the drug and take an innocent life, justice will be delivered,” Rep. Gonzales said regarding the sentencing changes made by the legislation.

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April 29, 2025
Crime
News

Iraqi Migrant Faces Charges for Illegal Voting Amid Dem Opposition to Election Integrity Bill.

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❓What Happened: Federal prosecutors have charged an Iraqi national with illegally voting in the 2020 U.S. presidential election.

👥 Who’s Involved: Akeel Abdul Jamiel, a 45-year-old Iraqi man who is not a U.S. citizen, has been named in court documents. Rep. Chip Roy and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) are also involved parties.

📍 Where & When: The voting incident occurred in Saratoga County, New York, around November 3, 2020.

💬 Key Quote: FBI Special Agent Craig Tremaroli emphasized, “Election security is and will continue to be one of the FBI’s highest national security priorities.”

⚠️ Impact: The case may influence legislative efforts to require citizenship proof for voting, reflected in recent moves by Republican lawmakers.

IN FULL:

Federal authorities have charged Akeel Abdul Jamiel, an Iraqi national, with illegally voting in the U.S. presidential election held on November 3, 2020. The charge is part of broader federal efforts to maintain election integrity by prosecuting noncitizens who participate unlawfully in elections.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) asserted that Jamiel knowingly cast a ballot in Saratoga County, New York. Should he be convicted, Jamiel faces the possibility of a one-year prison term and a fine of up to $100,000. Jamiel claims he no longer resides in the U.S., arguing that someone may have used his identity fraudulently.

The FBI has reiterated its dedication to election security. “Election security is and will continue to be one of the FBI’s highest national security priorities,” FBI Special Agent Craig Tremaroli said.

This development takes place amid legislative efforts by Republican lawmakers, such as Texas Representative Chip Roy, aiming to secure election integrity. Measures include demanding proof of citizenship before registering voters for federal elections. Recently, the House of Representatives passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which calls for removing noncitizens from voter rolls.

The legislation notably met resistance from the Democratic Party and received only limited bipartisan support. Nevertheless, the principle of verifying voter citizenship continues to resonate widely with the American public.

In parallel, instances of noncitizens voting illegally have surfaced in various states. Legal authorities in Alabama, Texas, Virginia, and Ohio have identified thousands of noncitizens on voter rolls. Efforts are underway to cleanse these lists ahead of future elections.

Image by Lorie Shaull.

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April 28, 2025
William Upton
Crime
Immigration

Trump Forces Media to Cover Deportation of Dangerous Illegals.

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❓What Happened: Images depicting the most serious criminal illegal immigrants arrested since the beginning of President Donald J. Trump’s second term are being displayed on the White House lawn.

👥 Who’s Involved: The Trump Administration organized the display, focusing on individuals arrested for serious criminal activities.

📍 Where & When: The event took place this morning, Monday, April 28, on the lawn of the White House.

💬 Key Quote: “Between President Trump’s inauguration and April 1 of this month, only nine illegal aliens were released into the United States. A staggering 99.99 percent decrease from the more than 184,000 illegal aliens who were released into the country under Biden during the same period last year,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced.

⚠️ Impact: This event is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to showcase its commitment to tightening immigration controls and removing dangerous individuals from the U.S.

IN FULL:

The Trump White House has lined the driveway on the north lawn where the corporate media hold live reports with images of the most dangerous criminal illegal immigrants who have been apprehended during President Donald J. Trump‘s first 100 days in office. Prominently displayed, the photos posted on yard signs with the name and criminal charges for each illegal immigrant will be difficult for reporters to frame out of their live shots from the White House lawn.

Numbering 100 in total, the yard signs include an illegal Jamaican national arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Baltimore, who was convicted of first-degree murder. Another yard sign features an illegal immigrant from Burkina Faso who was arrested last week by ICE in Buffalo with a previous conviction for rape. A number of the criminals have prior convictions for violent sex crimes against minors, aggravated assault and battery, and crimes relating to their gang membership.


Early Monday morning, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt and President Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, addressed the media regarding the display on the White House lawn and the administration’s success in removing dangerous illegal immigrants and securing the border since January.

“Between President Trump’s inauguration and April 1 of this month, only nine illegal aliens were released into the United States. A staggering 99.99 percent decrease from the more than 184,000 illegal aliens who were released into the country under Biden during the same period last year,” Leavitt announced. She added: “Total attempted illegal crossings at the southwest border hit a record low in February, only to fall to another new record low again last month in March.”

Meanwhile, Homan took the corporate media to task over falsely alleging that the Trump administration deported a two-year-old American citizen. “What we did is remove children with their mothers who requested it—that’s a parental decision. Parenting 101,” Homan said, arguing: “I’ll tell you what, if we didn’t do it, the story today would be, ‘Trump administration’s separating families again!'”

“We’re keeping families together. When a parent says, I want my two-year-old to go with me, we made that happen. They weren’t deported; the parents made the decision,” Homan added.

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April 28, 2025
William Upton
Crime
Immigration

Second Illegal in Noem Purse Theft Identified, Freed Into U.S. Despite Expedited Removal Order.

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❓What Happened: Two illegal immigrants from Chile have been arrested in connection with the theft of a purse belonging to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem on Easter Sunday.

👥 Who’s Involved: U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem, Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzana, and Mario Bustamante-Leiva.

📍 Where & When: The theft occurred on Easter Sunday, with the suspects being arrested on Sunday, April 27, in Washington, D.C., and Miami, Florida.

💬 Key Quote: Montecino-Sanzana, who was detained and arrested in Miami on Sunday, had previously received an order for “expedited removal,” but was instead released into the United States in January of 2021.

⚠️ Impact: Montecino-Sanzana and Bustamante-Leiva are believed to be members of an organized East Coast criminal organization comprised of illegal immigrants who have executed a number of notable robberies and thefts.

IN FULL:

A second illegal alien arrested for the theft of a purse belonging to U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has been identified as Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzana, a Chilean national. Montecino-Sanzana, who was detained and arrested in Miami on Sunday, had previously received an order for “expedited removal,” but was instead released into the United States in January of 2021.

Mario Bustamante-Leiva and Cristian Rodrigo Montecino-Sanzana—both Chilean illegals—have been arrested in connection with the purse theft, which contained $3,000 in cash. Both men are suspected of being members of a large, organized criminal organization on the U.S. East Coast that has executed many thefts and robberies. Bustamante-Leiva was arrested earlier on Sunday by the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Over a decade ago, in the United Kingdom, Bustamante-Leiva was charged with 22 separate acts of theft over a half-year period, totaling around $28,000. The extent of Montecino-Sanzana’s criminal record is not yet known.

Secretary Noem was dining at The Capital Burger—a restaurant in Washington, D.C.—on Easter Sunday when a masked man snatched her purse, which contained the former South Dakota governor’s driver’s license, $3,000 in cash, passport, DHS identification badge, and her house keys.

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April 25, 2025
Jack Montgomery
Crime
Immigration

WATCH: AG Bondi Describes How Arrested Judge Snuck Illegal Out of Court to Evade ICE.

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❓ What Happened: Attorney General Pam Bondi has described the circumstances that led to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents arresting Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on April 25, 2025, for allegedly obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) by helping a previously deported illegal alien, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, escape arrest at her courthouse.

👥 Who’s Involved: Judge Hannah Dugan, Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel, ICE agents, and Eduardo Flores Ruiz, a Mexican illegal with a domestic abuse charge.

📍 Where & When: Milwaukee County Courthouse, Wisconsin, with the incident occurring on April 18, 2025, and the arrest on April 25, 2025.

💬 Key Quote: Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “The Judge learns that ICE was outside to get the guy… She comes back into the courtroom… Takes the defendant and the defense attorney back in her chambers… and tells them to leave.”

⚠️ Impact: Dugan’s arrest underscores the Trump administration’s strong stance on immigration enforcement, potentially deterring judicial interference while intensifying federal-local tensions over sanctuary policies.

IN FULL:

The FBI arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on April 25, 2025, charging her with obstructing an ICE operation after she allegedly helped an illegal alien evade arrest. The incident, which unfolded on April 18 at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, has intensified the debate over the role of judges in hindering immigration enforcement, with the Trump administration signaling a no-tolerance approach.

Speaking on Fox News, Attorney General Pam Bondi said Judge Dugan intervened when ICE agents arrived to detain Eduardo Flores Ruiz, a Mexican migrant previously deported in 2013 and facing misdemeanor battery charges related to domestic abuse. Bondi detailed the events: “The Judge learns that ICE was outside to get the guy, because he had been deported in 2013, came back into our country, charged with committing these crimes, victim is in court. Judge finds out. She goes out into the hallway. Screams at the immigration officer. She’s furious. Visibly shaken. Upset. Sends them off to talk to the chief judge. She comes back into the courtroom. You’re not going to believe this. Takes the defendant and the defense attorney back in her chambers. Takes them out a private exit and tells them to leave. While the state prosecutor and victims of domestic violence are sitting in the courtroom.”

FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest, stating that Dugan “intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse,” allowing Flores Ruiz to initially evade capture. ICE agents later apprehended him after a foot chase, but Patel noted the judge’s actions “created increased danger to the public.” Dugan now faces felony charges of obstruction and concealing a person from arrest, which could lead to up to six years in prison if convicted.

Dugan, elected as a judge in 2016 and endorsed by Milwaukee’s Democratic mayor, previously served as head of Catholic Charities, where she supported refugee resettlement—a background some argue may have influenced her decision to shield Flores Ruiz. The case echoes a 2018 incident in Massachusetts, where a judge faced charges for helping an illegal immigrant escape ICE, though those charges were later dropped.

Democrats have suggested the arrest of a judge by federal authorities signals an authoritarian turn by the Trump administration, but administration officials, including Vice President J.D. Vance, have turned a line previously used against President Trump back against them, stating that “No one is above the law.”

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April 25, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
Crime
Media

Gabbard Announces Prosecution Referrals for Intel Leakers Undermining Trump.

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❓What Happened: Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that several intelligence leakers have been referred for criminal prosecution.

👥 Who’s Involved: Tulsi Gabbard, unnamed intelligence officials, Department of Justice (DOJ), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

📍 Where & When: Washington, D.C., April 25.

💬 Key Quote: “We have referred them now to the Department of Justice and the FBI for an official criminal investigation, because these are crimes and people need to be held accountable to put a stop to this.” — Tulsi Gabbard.

⚠️ Impact: The potential prosecutions could discourage further leakers seeking to undermine President Trump’s agenda.

IN FULL:

Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has announced that several members of the intelligence community suspected of leaking information to the mainstream media have been referred for prosecution. According to Gabbard, the officials purposely attempted to undermine President Donald J. Trump.

“We conducted our own internal investigation. We have referred them now to the Department of Justice and the FBI for an official criminal investigation, because these are crimes and people need to be held accountable to put a stop to this,” Gabbard said on April 25.

She went on to add that the American people voted for President Trump to put an end to the weaponization of intelligence that has undermined trust in intelligence agencies among the American public. Gabbard said the leaks were selective and were sent to “friends in the propaganda media that twisted, manipulated intelligence directly to undermine the president’s policies and his aggressive work to keep the American people safe.”

The DNI did not reveal any names of suspects being referred to prosecutors, but added that additional intelligence community members were also being investigated. She did, however, name the New York Times, Washington Post, and Huffington Post as outlets that received information from the leakers.

Since becoming DNI, Gabbard has cracked down on misbehaviour among intelligence officials, including sacking over 100 members of the NSA over their involvement in sexually explicit chat rooms in February.

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April 25, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Obama-Backed U.S. Factory Caught Using Illegal Chinese Labor.

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❓What Happened: A Chinese-owned factory complex in Ohio is under investigation for illegally importing workers from China. Federal authorities have seized $126 million in assets related to this case, which involves allegations of illegal staffing and money laundering.

👥 Who’s Involved: The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio is leading the investigation. Fuyao Glass America, a company featured in a documentary, is among the entities involved. Approximately 40 entities allegedly facilitated the illegal employment.

📍 Where & When: The factories are located in the Dayton area of Ohio. The investigation began in December 2019 after law enforcement learned about the alleged activities. The asset seizures related to the money laundering investigation were announced in April 2025.

💬 Key Quote: “We will continue to investigate allegations of unfair labor practices,” said Jared Murphey, ICE HSI Detroit acting Special Agent in Charge.

⚠️ Impact: The investigation has uncovered a network of entities allegedly employing individuals who entered the U.S. illegally. The focus is on accountability for employers and the workforce, and comes amidst heightened economic tensions between the United States and China over the latter’s unfair trade practices aimed at harming American domestic industries.

IN FULL:

Federal authorities have seized $126 million in assets amid an investigation into a Chinese-owned factory complex in Ohio accused of importing workers from China illegally. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio is scrutinizing allegations that workers were smuggled into the country through Mexico to work at factories in the Dayton area.

The investigation indicates that the affected workers, primarily of Chinese and Hispanic origin, were housed in accommodation owned by their employers and transported to work by them. According to authorities, roughly 40 entities were established to facilitate the employment of these individuals who entered and stayed in the United States unlawfully or worked without necessary permits.

Fuyao Glass America—a prominent Chinese manufacturer named in the case—emerged in the spotlight due to its feature in the 2019 Netflix documentary American Factory, acquired by Barack and Michelle Obama’s production company, Higher Ground Productions. The company, owned by Chinese industrialist Cao Dewang, employs a significant workforce on American soil, including a portion comprising Chinese immigrants.

The probe initially began in December 2019 upon the discovery of a collaboration among multiple business owners from China who moved to Ohio. They formed numerous entities to support the employment network suspected of harboring illegal workers and engaging in money laundering. The asset seizures were announced this month in relation to the money laundering investigation.

Despite being raided, Fuyao Glass America has maintained its stance as a victim, claiming cooperation with the investigation as it unfolds. In response to the allegations, Jared Murphey, acting Special Agent in Charge for ICE HSI Detroit, emphasized ongoing efforts to prevent illegal employment and workforce manipulation. “We will continue to investigate allegations of unfair labor practices,” said Murphey.

Notably, former President Joe Biden’s nomination of Nelson Cunningham as a deputy in the Office of the United States Trade Representative was derailed by a bipartisan group of senators over his lobbying work for Fuyao Glass America. Subsequently, Biden appointed Cunningham to an advisory role with the U.S. State Department.

Image by Peter Souza.

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April 25, 2025
William Upton
Breaking
Crime

BREAKING: Kash Patel Says FBI Has Arrested Judge Who Attempted to Conceal Illegal Immigrant in Her Courthouse.

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❓What Happened: A Milwaukee County circuit judge has been arrested on charges of obstruction after she allegedly attempted to conceal an illegal immigrant in her courthouse

👥 Who’s Involved: Judge Hannah Dugan, illegal immigrant Eduardo Flores Ruiz, and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel.

📍 Where & When: The arrest was announced on Friday, April 25.

💬 Key Quote: “We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject—an illegal alien—to evade arrest,” Patel said.

⚠️ Impact: The judge is the second state or local official to be arrested over the last 24 hours over allegations of aiding and abetting an illegal immigrant. A former New Mexico judge and his wife were arrested Thursday evening on allegations of tampering stemming from their harboring of a Venezuelan illegal immigrant member of the dangerous Tren de Aragua gang.

IN FULL:

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents have arrested a Milwaukee County circuit judge on charges of obstruction after she allegedly attempted to conceal an illegal immigrant in her courthouse, going so far as to misdirect agents as to the individual’s location. According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested in Milwaukee, with the illegal immigrant, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, also successfully being taken into custody.

“The FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction—after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week,” Patel announced on Friday. “We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject—an illegal alien—to evade arrest.”

Patel added: “Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public.”

Judge Dugan’s arrest is the second instance of a state or local judge being arrested for aiding and abetting an illegal immigrant in the past 24 hours. The National Pulse previously reported that former Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his spouse, Nancy Cano, were taken into custody late Thursday in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and face charges related to allegations that the couple harbored illegal immigrant members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang.

Notably, a number of federal judges have used temporary restraining orders (TROs) and other legal tools to block the Trump administration’s efforts to deport violent illegal immigrant criminals to El Salvador, where they are being held in the country’s CECOT prison facility.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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April 25, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Illegal Immigrant Released by Biden Charged with Rape of Boy.

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❓What Happened: A Mexican migrant is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy during a game of hide-and-seek.

👥 Who’s Involved: Samuel Cobos-Carmona, the alleged perpetrator; a 13-year-old Florida boy and his eight-year-old brother; Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

📍 Where & When: Alleged incident occurred in Florida behind the victim’s home on April 13, reported one week later.

💬 Key Quote: “We’re going to work very hard with the State Attorney’s Office and our federal partners to make sure this individual does not see the light of day again.” — Sheriff Bill Prummell.

⚠️ Impact: Cobos-Carmona faces charges of lewd and lascivious battery; broader conversations about immigration policy and law enforcement partnerships are likely.

IN FULL:

Charlotte County, Florida, faces a grave criminal case involving an alleged sexual assault on a minor. Samuel Cobos-Carmona, a 20-year-old Mexican migrant, is accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old boy during a game of hide-and-seek behind the victim’s home. The attack reportedly occurred on April 13 but was not immediately disclosed due to the victim’s fear.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Cobos-Carmona confessed to the assault after he formed a short-lived friendship with the victim and his younger sibling, aged eight. Sheriff’s deputies arrested Cobos-Carmona on Monday, charging him with lewd and lascivious battery on a victim between the ages of 12 and 16.

Sheriff Bill Prummell pledged cooperation with federal and state authorities to ensure the accused remains incarcerated. Prummell remarked, “We’re going to work very hard with the State Attorney’s Office and our federal partners to make sure this individual does not see the light of day again.” The sheriff further emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts with federal agencies to deport individuals like Cobos-Carmona.

Cobos-Carmona’s history in the United States is marked by a previous illegal entry in 2021, leading to deportation back to Mexico. However, he re-entered the U.S. the following year and avoided capture by Texas authorities before relocating to Florida. He was eventually detected, but Sheriff Prummell noted that he was released in 2024 thanks to the Biden-Harris government’s catch-and-release policies.

The case underscores issues surrounding immigration enforcement and public safety, prompting debates about federal policies and the responsibilities of agencies working at the state and local levels. Sheriff Prummell said officials helping to shelter migrants like Cobos-Carmona by implementing sanctuary policies should be “ashamed of themselves.”

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April 25, 2025
Crime
Immigration

Judge and Wife Arrested for Allegedly Sheltering Violent Illegal Immigrant Gang Members.

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❓What Happened: A former New Mexico magistrate judge and his wife were arrested after allegedly harboring members of Venezuela’s violent Tren de Aragua criminal organization.

👥 Who’s Involved: Former Magistrate Judge Joel Cano, his wife Nancy Cano, and Venezuelan illegal immigrant and Tren de Aragua member Cristhian Ortega-Lopez.

📍 Where & When: Las Cruces, New Mexico; arrests occurred late on Thursday, April 24.

💬 Key Quote: “Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens—including more than 600 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang,” Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter) following the arrests, adding: “If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up. That’s a promise.”

⚠️ Impact: Both Canos are held without bond; Joel Cano has been barred from judicial office, and hearings are ongoing for the gang suspect.

IN FULL:

Former Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his spouse, Nancy Cano, were taken into custody late Thursday in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and face charges related to allegations that the couple harbored illegal immigrant members of the violent Tren de Aragua gang. Joel Cano is being charged with evidence tampering, while his wife, Nancy, is being charged with conspiracy to tamper stemming from their relationship with a Venezuelan illegal immigrant and accused member of Tren de Aragua, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez.

Ortega-Lopez, detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) last week, is accused of possessing firearms illegally and having links to the dangerous Venezuelan criminal gang. Tren de Aragua, designated as a terrorist organization by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, is known for violent activities in Venezuela. He was found living on the Canos’ property, which triggered the law enforcement actions against the couple, including an extensive ICE raid and search on their home on Thursday.

“Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens—including more than 600 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang,” Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote in a post late Thursday on X (formerly Twitter) following the arrests, adding: “If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up. That’s a promise.”

Before his judgeship commenced in 2010, Joel Cano served for over two decades in the police force. However, Cano was forced to resign from the bench following ICE’s arrest of Ortega-Lopez during a search on February 28. Notably, Ortega-Lopez entered the U.S. at the infamous Eagle Pass, Texas border crossing in December of 2023 during the illegal immigration crisis under former President Joe Biden. The Biden government subsequently released the Venezuelan illegal immigrant and alleged Tren de Aragua member due to overcrowding at a detention center.

Ortega-Lopez’s online presence showed him and others with firearms in a shooting range. It is illegal in the United States for illegal immigrants to own or possess a firearm or ammunition unless the weapon is for immediate export. The Venezuelan illegal immigrant is slated for a court appearance on April 30, with federal prosecutors deeming him a flight risk.

The New Mexico Supreme Court has also permanently banned Joel Cano from holding judicial office. It remains uncertain if the Canos will face further charges related to harboring illegal immigrants or supporting a foreign terrorist organization (FTO).

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