New Mexico – Doña Ana County, Judge Joel Cano resigned from his position in March 2025 following the arrest of a suspected member of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA) at his Las Cruces, New Mexico, residence.
The incident has raised questions about judicial integrity, immigration enforcement, and public safety, sparking widespread media attention and public debate.
On February 28, 2025, federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in collaboration with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), executed a search warrant at a property owned by Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, in Las Cruces.
The raid resulted in the arrest of 23-year-old Venezuelan illegal migrant Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, who was charged with being an illegal immigrant in possession of firearms and ammunition—a federal offense carrying a potential 15-year prison sentence.
The arrest stemmed from an anonymous tip received by HSI in January 2025, which prompted an investigation into Ortega-Lopez. Court documents revealed that he was living in a “casita” (a small guesthouse) behind the Cano family’s home and had been socializing with the judge and his family.
Social media evidence uncovered by investigators showed Ortega-Lopez posing with firearms at a Las Cruces shooting range, handling weapons allegedly provided by April Cano, the judge’s stepdaughter.
Disturbingly, some posts depicted Ortega-Lopez with Judge Cano and his wife, including a video where Ortega-Lopez handed a long rifle to both Joel and Nancy Cano.
Just days after the raid, on March 3, 2025, Judge Cano submitted his resignation letter, effective March 21.
The letter, addressed to 3rd Judicial District Chief Judge Conrad Perea and court staff, did not explicitly state a reason for his departure but expressed gratitude for his time on the bench: “Working with each of you has been a very rewarding experience for which I will remain eternally grateful.” The timing of the resignation, however, strongly suggests a connection to the arrest and the ensuing controversy.
Who Is Cristhian Ortega-Lopez?
Cristhian Ortega-Lopez is 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, during the height of the border crisis under the Biden administration.
He was briefly detained by Border Patrol but released three days later due to overcrowding at the South Laredo, Texas, processing center. After his release, Ortega-Lopez moved to El Paso, Texas, where he lived with five other individuals before relocating to Las Cruces.
In Las Cruces, Ortega-Lopez met Nancy Cano while performing construction and handyman work. After being evicted from his apartment in April 2024, Nancy offered him a place to stay in the casita behind the Cano family’s home. He listed the Cano residence as his address in a 2024 immigration relief application, indicating he had been living there for at least ten months by the time of his arrest.
Federal prosecutors allege that Ortega-Lopez is affiliated with Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. government in early 2025.
Evidence of his gang ties includes tattoos (such as an AK-47 tattoo he referred to as an “Aragua train”), clothing, hand gestures, and conversations found on his cell phones. One conversation referenced a $5,000 reward offered by Texas for information on TdA members, while another included a request for grenades or firearms. Most disturbingly, investigators found images of mutilated and decapitated bodies on Ortega-Lopez’s phone, further linking him to the gang’s brutal activities.
Why Was He at the Judge’s Home?
Ortega-Lopez’s presence at the Cano residence began with a seemingly innocuous connection. According to court documents, he met Nancy Cano while working odd jobs in Las Cruces. After his eviction, Nancy offered him a place to stay in the casita, and he became integrated into the family’s social circle. Photos and videos show Ortega-Lopez dining with the Canos, attending gatherings, and even handling firearms with them.
Nancy Cano, in a letter to U.S. Magistrate Judge Damian L. Martinez dated March 13, 2025, pleaded for leniency for Ortega-Lopez, revealing the depth of their relationship: “I took him in as my own son … Please consider his future and give him a chance.”
She also admitted to hiring him for jobs and arranging work for others, stating, “Each job he got I was told he did an excellent job. No one was ever disappointed.” Nancy further noted that Ortega-Lopez had passed through Border Patrol checkpoints five times without issue, potentially disclosing additional immigration violations.
There is no evidence that Judge Cano or his wife were aware of Ortega-Lopez’s alleged gang affiliations or criminal activities. However, their decision to allow him to live on their property and use their address for immigration paperwork has raised questions about their judgment, particularly given Cano’s role as a magistrate judge handling cases that could involve immigration or criminal matters.
Affiliation with Tren de Aragua
Tren de Aragua, or TdA, is a transnational criminal organization originating in Venezuela, known for its involvement in murders, kidnappings, extortion, human trafficking, and drug and weapons smuggling.
The gang operates in conjunction with the Cártel de los Soles, a narco-terrorism enterprise linked to the Venezuelan regime, and has been accused of destabilizing democratic nations through mass illegal migration.
In a March 2025 proclamation, President Donald Trump declared TdA a Foreign Terrorist Organization, stating: “Tren de Aragua (TdA) is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, many of whom have unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States.”
Ortega-Lopez’s alleged ties to TdA were substantiated by federal investigators through his tattoos, social media activity, and phone communications. His possession of firearms, which is illegal for undocumented immigrants in the U.S., further escalated concerns about his potential danger to the community.
Following his arrest on February 28, 2025, Ortega-Lopez made his first court appearance on March 3. During a detention hearing on March 14, U.S. Magistrate Judge Damian L. Martinez initially ordered his release under supervision, stating, “I don’t think [Judge Cano] would just let anybody live on his property.” However, prosecutors appealed, citing Ortega-Lopez’s gang affiliations and flight risk.
He is now being held without bond at the Doña Ana County Detention Center, facing federal firearms and immigration charges. A hearing to reconsider his bail status is scheduled for April 30, 2025.
Who Is Judge Joel Cano?
Joel Cano, a Democrat and former police officer, was first elected as a Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge in 2010 and ran unopposed in subsequent elections, securing his fourth term in 2022. A 1975 graduate of Las Cruces High School, Cano served on the bench for 14 years, handling cases such as bond hearings, warrants, and preliminary hearings, some of which involved immigration-related matters.
Cano’s resignation has left a vacancy that New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will fill through the remainder of his term, which runs until the end of 2026. The New Mexico Supreme Court has scheduled an oral argument on April 24, 2025, to discuss matters related to Cano’s resignation, which will be livestreamed to the public.
The case has ignited a firestorm of commentary across media outlets and social platforms. Conservative news sources, such as Breitbart, The Gateway Pundit, and Fox News, have framed the incident as evidence of lax immigration policies and judicial misconduct.
The Gateway Pundit described Cano’s resignation as a “bombshell,” emphasizing the “stunning image” of Ortega-Lopez posing with the judge.
Fox News reported on U.S. Magistrate Judge Martinez’s remarks during the detention hearing, noting his belief in Cano’s discernment: “I’ve met him before several times and he’s got a BS meter … I don’t think he would just let anybody live in his property.”
On X, users expressed outrage and suspicion. One post b stated, “New Mexico Judge Joel Cano quits after Homeland Security finds an Tren de Aragua gang member living with him!! — armed, tatted, using his address!!” Another user, called the resignation a “BOMBSHELL,” highlighting the ICE raid and Ortega-Lopez’s alleged gang ties.
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, offered a counterperspective on X, arguing that TdA is “not an arm of Venezuela and it’s not ‘invading’ the country,” suggesting the gang’s threat may be overstated by some narratives.
The incident comes amid heightened national focus on Tren de Aragua, with federal authorities arresting hundreds of suspected members across the U.S. in early 2025.
The gang’s activities, including a high-profile murder in Texas and sex trafficking allegations, have fueled calls for stricter immigration enforcement. The Department of Justice is reportedly investigating whether Joel or Nancy Cano could face charges for harboring an illegal immigrant or providing material support to a criminal organization, though no charges have been filed as of April 21, 2025.
The case also raises questions about Cano’s judicial decisions. As a magistrate judge, he handled early-stage immigration and criminal cases, prompting speculation about whether his association with Ortega-Lopez influenced his rulings. Some commentators on X and conservative blogs have called for a review of Cano’s docket to investigate potential bias or leniency toward undocumented immigrants or gang members, though no evidence of such misconduct has been confirmed.
The resignation of Judge Joel Cano following the arrest of Cristhian Ortega-Lopez at his home has exposed vulnerabilities in the judicial system and intensified debates over immigration and public safety.
While Cano and his family have declined to comment further, citing concerns about jeopardizing Ortega-Lopez’s legal case, the public and media continue to grapple with the implications of a sitting judge harboring an alleged gang member.
As federal investigations proceed and Ortega-Lopez’s case moves through the courts, this story is likely to remain in the spotlight, more updates will be made when available.
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