Federal authorities arrested a judge and a former judge this week for allegedly helping illegal immigrants.
In New Mexico, former Judge Joel Cano, along with his wife, Nancy Cano, were charged with allegedly tampering with evidence and harboring an alleged Tren de Aragua member, Cristhian Ortega Lopez.
Joel Cano (pictured above) resigned from being a judge earlier this week after it was discovered he was allegedly hiding an illegal alien gang member. The New Mexico Supreme Court also banned Joel Cano from ever holding a judicial office again.
According to Fox News, Ortega-Lopez allegedly entered America illegally on Dec. 15, 2023, and was taken into custody. However, three days later, federal authorities released him due to overcrowding at a Texas Border Patrol facility. Ortega-Lopez received a Notice to Appear.
The outlet stated that the former judge hired Ortega-Lopez for home repairs.
The Canos face up to 15 years in prison.
On Friday, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said, “Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens—including more than 600 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang. If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up. That’s a promise.”
In Wisconsin, federal authorities arrested Judge Hannah Dugan, allegedly helping an illegal alien, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, evade arrest from ICE.
After the arrest, Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the situation on X.
“I can confirm that our [FBI] agents just arrested Hannah Dugan – a county judge in Milwaukee – for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by [ICE],” she said.
FBI Director Kash Patel also discussed the arrest on X.
“Just NOW, 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 said.
“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,” he added.
Patel said federal authorities took Flores Ruiz into custody.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said that Flores Ruiz is from Mexico and appeared before Dugan for charges of three misdemeanors regarding battery.
Former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker said on X that the Wisconsin Legislature should vote to remove this judge.
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Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at zschmidt1717@gmail.com.
