US Judge Resigns After Undocumented Immigrant with Ties to Venezuelan Crime Organization Found in His Home
A judge in New Mexico has resigned after a federal raid on a guest house at his home uncovered an undocumented immigrant with links to a Venezuelan crime organization and access to firearms
A judge in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, submitted his resignation on March 3, following the arrest of Kristian Ortiga-Lopez, a 23-year-old Venezuelan citizen, who was taken into custody on February 28 at a guest house on the judge's property in Las Cruces.
The arrest came after an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit, which began in January and revealed that Ortiga-Lopez had entered the US illegally from Mexico in December 2023 and was living with other undocumented immigrants.
Investigators also found that he had access to firearms, which is prohibited for non-citizens in the US. According to officials, Ortiga-Lopez was formally charged by HSI with being in the US illegally and having ties to the Tren de Aragua crime organization, a Venezuelan group that has recently come under scrutiny from the Trump administration.
The judge had served for 14 years, following an earlier career in law enforcement.
Ortiga-Lopez's arrest and the subsequent resignation of the judge have brought attention to the issue of undocumented immigration and organized crime in the US.
The arrest came after an investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit, which began in January and revealed that Ortiga-Lopez had entered the US illegally from Mexico in December 2023 and was living with other undocumented immigrants.
Investigators also found that he had access to firearms, which is prohibited for non-citizens in the US. According to officials, Ortiga-Lopez was formally charged by HSI with being in the US illegally and having ties to the Tren de Aragua crime organization, a Venezuelan group that has recently come under scrutiny from the Trump administration.
The judge had served for 14 years, following an earlier career in law enforcement.
Ortiga-Lopez's arrest and the subsequent resignation of the judge have brought attention to the issue of undocumented immigration and organized crime in the US.
