Former New Mexico judge and his wife arrested for allegedly housing suspected Tren de Aragua member

Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested in New Mexico on Thursday after FBI agents raided their home over suspicion of housing a suspected illegal gang member.

Joel Cano resigned his post last month and the state Supreme Court permanently barred him from holding a judicial office in the state on Tuesday over the allegations they took in an illegal migrant, who was also a suspected member of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. 

The couple are expected to be charged with evidence tampering, according to Fox News, after the migrant Cristhian Ortega-Lopez was arrested at their residence in February. Documents allegedly showed that Nancy Cano hired the migrant for home repairs, and offered him housing. 

"Under President Trump, we have arrested over 150,000 aliens—including more than 600 members of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. "If you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up. That's a promise."

Evidence obtained in the FBI raid also allegedly link Ortega-Lopez to the Venezuelan gang. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.