U.S. Customs and Immigration (ICE) Denver announced Friday afternoon that it has captured a member of an ultra-violent Venezuelan gang who had a final deportation order. 

“ICE Denver officers arrested Joel Matos-Nieto, 23, a criminal alien from Venezuela and member of the international gang Tren de Aragua with a final order of removal April 23,” according to the federal immigration authorities. “Matos has convictions for motor vehicle theft, obstructing a police officer and criminal mischief.”

Joel Matos-Nieto was arrested by ICE Denver on a final removal order after criminal convictions.  (ICE Denver)

The arrest comes on the heels of Thursday’s news that a former New Mexico judge and his wife were arrested for alleged evidence tampering and harboring a suspected TdA gang member in their Las Cruses home. 

Ex-judge Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, are accused of inviting Cristhian Ortega-Lopez to live in their home. Ortega-Lopez reportedly crossed into the United States illegally in December 2023, but was released from custody pending a removal hearing due to overcrowding. 

An HSI agent escorts former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano out of his home on Thursday, April 24, 2025.   (Courtesy of KFOX14)

He first met the Canos when he did repairs on their home. 

Ortega-Lopez was arrested by federal authorities in February, and Joel Cano resigned from his post shortly thereafter in March.