New Mexico Judge and Wife Taken Into Custody After Allegedly Harboring Tren De Aragua Gang Member

A former New Mexico Judge and his wife were taken into custody after ICE and FBI authorities raided their home in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

KFOX14 reported that former Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were taken into custody following allegations they were harboring an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member in their home.

Homeland Security Investigations reported that Cano and his wife are facing evidence tampering charges.

The raid comes a month after Cano resigned from his position as a Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge following reports that he illegally harbored  Ortega Lopez, an illegal alien from Venezuela, and an alleged gang member.

Watch their arrests here:

JUST IN: New Mexico judge Joel Cano and his wife have been arrested after they were caught housing an alleged Tren de Aragua member.

Cano recently resigned after authorities arrested 23-year-old Cristhian Ortega-Lopez.

"The home of a former judge in Las Cruces was raided… pic.twitter.com/RjoZVD7LrA

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) April 24, 2025

Per KFOX14:

A former judge and his wife were taken into custody after authorities raided their home in Las Cruces following accusations that they had an alleged Tren de Aragua member living in their home.

KFOX14/CBS4 were on the scene Thursday afternoon when the home of former Dona Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement executed a search warrant and a probable cause arrest warrant, and both were taken into custody.

A spokesperson for ICE confirmed they were both taken into custody as part of an ongoing investigation led by Homeland Security Investigations.

KFOX14/CBS4 spoke with HSI agents on the scene, who said both are facing evidence tampering charges.

The raid comes after Cano had resigned in March following accusations that he and his wife, Nancy, had hosted Cristhian Ortega Lopez, an undocumented migrant from Venezuela, and an alleged TdA member.

The FBI has arrested New Mexico Judge Juan Cano and his wife after they were exposed for harboring a Tren de Aragua terrorist in their home.

FAFO.
pic.twitter.com/Gqgxvomt6X

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) April 24, 2025

Here’s what KTSM reported:

The wife of a former New Mexico judge was taken into custody on Thursday, April 24, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after federal law enforcement learned that their tenant, who is an alleged Tren de Aragua gang member, was arrested at the judge’s home.

Alleged Tren de Aragua gang member arrested at Doña Ana County judge’s home
A spokesperson with ICE sent the following statement:

“On April 24, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement executed a search warrant and probable cause arrest at a residence in the 1200 block of North Reymond Street in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Homeland Security

Investigations special agents working with federal law enforcement partners, took Nancy Cano into custody as part of an ongoing HSI-led criminal investigation.”

As we previously reported, former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano rented out his casita to Cristhian Ortega-Lopez at the behest of his wife last year. They met Ortega-Lopez when his wife hired him to do housework, according to a criminal complaint.

According to court documents obtained by KTSM, the Supreme Court and Third Judicial District Court received Cano’s resignation letter on March 31.

It’s unknown if Cano or his wife knew of Ortega-Lopez’s alleged gang affiliation. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will appoint a new judge who will serve out his term through 2026.