Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy, were arrested Thursday after a federal raid on their Las Cruces home. They’re accused of tampering with evidence related to allegations they sheltered Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, an undocumented immigrant believed to be linked to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang, according to Fox News.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated that under President Trump, over 150,000 undocumented individuals have been arrested, including more than 600 gang members. “If you’re here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down,” she said.
The case began when Ortega-Lopez was arrested in February at the Cano residence. Nancy Cano had reportedly hired him for home repairs and later let him stay in their guesthouse. Evidence including gang-related clothing, tattoos, and messages tied him to the Tren de Aragua. He entered the U.S. illegally in December 2023 and was released shortly after due to overcrowding, pending deportation proceedings.
Investigators also seized four firearms from the home of the Canos’ daughter, April, after photos surfaced of Ortega-Lopez posing with guns he allegedly claimed were hers. He now faces federal charges for possessing firearms as an undocumented immigrant, which could bring up to 15 years in prison.
Joel Cano resigned in March, and the New Mexico Supreme Court has since barred him from ever holding judicial office again. Republican leaders in the state are calling for full transparency and accountability.
Separately, Noem announced that two people at DHS who leaked details about ICE operations have been caught and will be prosecuted.