On Wednesday, April 23, 2025, KOAT Action 7 News reported that former Doña Ana County magistrate judge Joel Cano responded to allegations that he knowingly allowed members of a Venezuelan gang to reside on his property. Cano, who resigned from his position in March and is now permanently barred from serving as a judge in New Mexico, characterized the claims as “sensationalism at the highest possible level.”

The controversy began in late February when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) arrested three Venezuelan nationals, including Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, during a raid on Cano’s property. Federal authorities allege that the men are affiliated with the Tren de Aragua gang, a criminal organization based in Venezuela.

In a 23-page letter submitted to the New Mexico Supreme Court, Cano vehemently denied any wrongdoing and asserted that he was unaware of the alleged gang ties of the individuals living in a guest house, or casita, on his property. “Let me be as crystal clear as possible,” he stated, claiming that the first time he heard of their possible connections to the gang was during the raid itself.

Cano referred to the three men as “the boys” and defended his decision to allow them to stay, citing their previous interactions with Border Patrol and HSI without issues. He maintained that their immigration paperwork indicated they were not subject to removal and included court dates for their asylum hearings. “Their papers stated in the upper right-hand corner, ‘This Person is Not Subject to Removal,’” Cano noted.

Emphasizing his commitment to his family’s safety, Cano mentioned his three grandchildren, aged 15, 8, and 6. He insisted that he would never have allowed them to interact with the men if he had suspected any danger. “There is no way in the world that I would have allowed my grandkids to have any contact with the boys if I had sensed danger,” he wrote.

In response to allegations from the Judicial Standards Commission that he provided firearms to the men, Cano denied the claims, explaining that he had only attended a family outing at a shooting range as a spectator and did not bring any weapons or ammunition. “I did not take a single firearm to the range. I took no ammunition to the range either,” he asserted.

As the investigation continues, Cano remains firm in his denial of the allegations and his assertion of innocence.