Former New Mexico Democrat Judge Jose “Joel” Cano and his wife were reportedly taken into custody by federal officials on Thursday after being accused of having members of the Tren de Aragua (TDA) gang at their home.
KFOX14 Captured Videos On Thursday afternoon, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers showed federal officials detaining Cano and his wife Nancy as they ran a search and a probable cause arrest warrant at their Las Cruces home. The video shows officials wearing Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) detaining a couple near the vehicle, both being handcuffed.
In March, Cano resigned from his position after 23-year-old Venezuelan Christian Ortegalopez was arrested by authorities, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Ortega Lopez reportedly met Nancy Cano after illegally entering the US in 2023 near Eagle Pass, Texas, and later reported that she accepted her offer to stay in the “casita” behind her home. (Related: Scotus Press pauses after Trump’s deportation of Tren de Aragua)
ICE agents monitor hundreds of asylum seekers being processed when they enter Jacob K. Javits Federal Building (David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)
Until Kano resigned, the Ministry of Justice I said Federal authorities had executed search warrants related to illegal possession of firearms and four illegal immigrants in the state, including Ortega Lopez, among other crimes.
An ICE spokesman told KFOX14 that both Cano and his wife were taken into custody during the raids at the home.
Ortega Lopez is an illegal immigrant who has firearms and is accused of affiliated with the TDA. Official accusations against Kano and his wife have not been officially released.
The FBI was unable to provide further information to the Daily Caller News Foundation due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
HSI and ICE did not immediately respond to DCNF’s request for comment.
All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation is an independent, nonpartisan newswire service that is free to use for legitimate news publishers that can provide large audiences. All republished articles must include logos, reporter signatures and DCNF affiliation. For questions regarding our guidelines or partnerships with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
