A magistrate judge in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, has resigned after authorities arrested a suspected member of the Tren de Aragua gang at his residence, according to Fox News. Judge Joel Cano submitted his resignation on March 3, but court officials did not receive it until March 31, according to the Administrative Office of the Courts.
The incident began in January when Homeland Security Investigations in Las Cruces launched an investigation into Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a Venezuelan national who authorities say is in the U.S. illegally and suspected of gang involvement. Court documents reviewed by Fox News Digital allege that Ortega-Lopez was living with other undocumented immigrants and had access to firearms.
On February 28, law enforcement executed search warrants at a property connected to Cano’s wife, Nancy Cano. During the operation, Ortega-Lopez and others were taken into custody, and four firearms were seized from a residence owned by April Cano, the daughter of Nancy and Joel Cano. Investigators found images on social media showing Ortega-Lopez with firearms, some of which he claimed belonged to April Cano, who allegedly allowed him to handle and occasionally fire the weapons.
Ortega-Lopez reportedly admitted to crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally in December. He told investigators he was living in El Paso with five others when Nancy Cano hired him for a home improvement job. After he was evicted from his apartment in April 2024, Nancy Cano offered him a place to stay in a small building behind the property she shared with Judge Joel Cano.
Ortega-Lopez made his first court appearance in Las Cruces in March. During his detention hearing, U.S. Magistrate Damian L. Martinez asked if the prosecutor was familiar with Judge Cano. When she said no, Judge Martinez noted he had met Cano several times and doubted Cano would let just anyone stay at his property. Ultimately, the court ruled that Ortega-Lopez was not a flight risk or a danger to the community and ordered his release. However, the U.S. Attorney’s Office later filed a motion to reconsider that decision.
Property records show that the residence where Ortega-Lopez was arrested is co-owned by Nancy and Joel Cano. In his resignation letter, Joel Cano stated his last day would be March 21 and wished his colleagues well.
A spokesperson for the Administrative Office of the Courts said that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham will appoint someone to fill the remainder of Cano’s term, which runs through the end of 2026. Additionally, the state Supreme Court has scheduled a public, live-streamed hearing regarding Judge Cano for April 24.
