In a stunning turn of events that has rocked the Las Cruces community, former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested Thursday afternoon following a dramatic raid by federal agents on their home. The couple faces charges of evidence tampering and conspiracy to tamper, stemming from allegations that they harbored a suspected member of the notorious Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang, Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, in their guesthouse. The scandal, which has already led to Cano’s resignation from the bench and a lifetime ban from judicial office in New Mexico, raises serious questions about judicial integrity, immigration enforcement, and public safety in the border region.
The Raid: A Community in Shock
On the afternoon of April 24, 2025, residents of a quiet Las Cruces neighborhood watched in disbelief as agents from the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) descended on the Cano residence. According to eyewitness accounts, federal authorities executed a search warrant and probable cause arrest warrants, detaining both Joel and Nancy Cano. A spokesperson for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) confirmed the arrests, stating they were part of an ongoing investigation led by HSI.
Neighbors expressed shock and concern. “It’s unbelievable that this could happen in our neighborhood,” said Noyan Suel, a longtime resident. “My understanding is there was access to a lot of weapons. It’s scary.” The raid follows a February 28, 2025, operation at the same property, during which 23-year-old Venezuelan national Cristhian Ortega-Lopez was arrested on federal firearms charges. That earlier raid uncovered evidence that has since spiraled into a high-profile case with national implications.
Who Is Joel Cano? A Fall from Grace
Joel Cano, a Democrat and former police officer, served as a Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge since 2011. Elected in 2010 and re-elected unopposed in subsequent elections, Cano was a well-known figure in the local legal community, presiding over cases ranging from traffic violations to preliminary hearings for serious crimes. His tenure was largely uncontroversial until the events of early 2025.
Cano’s resignation letter, dated March 3, 2025, came just days after the initial raid on his home. Addressed to 3rd Judicial District Chief Judge Conrad Perea and court staff, it made no mention of the arrest of Ortega-Lopez or the allegations swirling around his family. “Working with each of you has been a very rewarding experience for which I will remain eternally grateful,” Cano wrote, declaring March 21 as his last day on the bench.
On April 22, the New Mexico Supreme Court took the extraordinary step of permanently barring Cano from holding judicial office in the state, effectively ending his legal career. The decision came after two disciplinary inquiries by the New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission, one of which alleged that Cano allowed three undocumented immigrants with suspected ties to Tren de Aragua to live on his property.
In a 23-page response to the commission, Cano vehemently denied knowingly harboring gang members, calling the allegations “sensationalism at the highest possible level.” He claimed he was unaware of any criminal activity by Ortega-Lopez or his roommates, whom he referred to as “the boys,” until federal agents informed him during the February raid.
The Alleged Gang Connection: Cristhian Ortega-Lopez
At the heart of the scandal is Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a 23-year-old Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally on December 15, 2023, by scaling a barbed-wire fence near Eagle Pass, Texas. Released from a Border Patrol facility three days later due to overcrowding, Ortega-Lopez made his way to El Paso, Texas(where he worked in construction and as a handyman.
Court documents reveal that Ortega-Lopez met Nancy Cano while performing odd jobs, including installing a glass door at the Cano residence. After being evicted from an El Paso apartment in April 2024, Nancy offered him a place to stay in a “casita” behind the family’s Las Cruces home. Ortega-Lopez listed the Cano address on a 2024 immigration relief application, further entwining his fate with the family.
Federal investigators allege that Ortega-Lopez is a member of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan crime syndicate designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the Trump administration. Social media evidence played a critical role in the case, with posts showing Ortega-Lopez posing with firearms at a Las Cruces shooting range, some allegedly supplied by April Cano, the judge’s daughter. Additional posts depicted Ortega-Lopez with gang-related tattoos, clothing, and hand gestures, as well as socializing with the Cano family, including a Christmas 2024 photo taken inside their home.
Disturbingly, investigators uncovered images on Ortega-Lopez’s phone of mutilated and decapitated bodies, further fueling concerns about his gang affiliations. He faces federal charges of being an illegal alien in possession of firearms and ammunition, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
The Cano Family’s Role: Firearms and Familiarity
The involvement of the Cano family, particularly April Cano, has drawn intense scrutiny. Court filings state that April, identified as Nancy Cano’s daughter, owned a “large number of firearms” and allowed Ortega-Lopez to handle and fire them. During the February raid, agents recovered four firearms from a neighboring property owned by April, along with six phones, laptops, and miscellaneous documents from the Cano residence.
Social media videos show Ortega-Lopez handing a long rifle to both Joel and Nancy Cano, with the former judge appearing comfortable in his presence. While there is no evidence that Joel or Nancy Cano knew of Ortega-Lopez’s alleged gang ties, their apparent familiarity with him has raised questions about their judgment.
In his defense, Joel Cano argued that he and his wife were simply offering shelter to individuals in need, unaware of their criminal associations. However, prosecutors have pointed to the family’s close relationship with Ortega-Lopez, evidenced by social media posts, as a factor in the ongoing investigation.
Federal Charges and Political Fallout
The arrests of Joel and Nancy Cano on April 24 mark a significant escalation in the case. Charged with evidence tampering and conspiracy to tamper, the couple now faces serious legal consequences. The exact nature of the tampering allegations remains unclear, as ICE has described the investigation as ongoing.
The case has ignited a firestorm of political rhetoric, particularly among New Mexico Republicans. Amy Barela, chairwoman of the Republican Party of New Mexico, issued a scathing statement: “The people of New Mexico are tired of a system where the powerful don’t play by their own rules. We demand real accountability for Judge Cano’s connection to a gang-affiliated criminal and full transparency on how our judiciary is held to the same laws as the rest of us.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized the Trump administration’s hardline stance on immigration enforcement, stating, “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.”
Community and Judicial Implications
The scandal has left the Las Cruces legal community reeling. The New Mexico Supreme Court’s decision to bar Cano from judicial office underscores the severity of the allegations. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, will appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of Cano’s term, which ends in 2026.
Legal experts suggest the case could lead to increased scrutiny of judges, particularly in border states where transnational criminal organizations like Tren de Aragua are active. “For Judge Cano, the fallout from this incident could affect his reputation and future career opportunities,” said one analyst.
Residents, meanwhile, are grappling with a sense of betrayal. “You expect a judge to uphold the law, not be involved in something like this,” said Maria Lopez, a local business owner. “It makes you question who you can trust.”
What’s Next?
As the investigation continues, all eyes are on the federal case against Ortega-Lopez and the pending charges against Joel and Nancy Cano. Ortega-Lopez remains in custody at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, awaiting trial. The Cano couple’s legal proceedings are expected to shed light on the extent of their involvement and whether additional charges will be filed.
The Las Cruces Chronicle will continue to follow this developing story, providing updates on court proceedings, community reactions, and the broader implications for New Mexico’s judiciary. For now, the arrest of a former judge and his wife has cast a long shadow over a community that prides itself on trust and justice.
