By USA Daily Now 
DENVER, CO — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced on Friday the arrest of JOEL MATOS-NIETO, 23, a member of the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TdA), who had a final deportation order. The arrest occurred on April 23, marking a significant development in the ongoing crackdown on transnational criminal organizations.
JOEL MATOS-NIETO, a Venezuelan national with convictions for motor vehicle theft, obstructing a police officer, and criminal mischief, was apprehended by ICE Denver officers. His removal order stems from his criminal activity and affiliation with TdA, a gang labeled as a terrorist organization under the Trump administration.
TRICIA MCLAUGHLIN, a spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), highlighted the success of President DONALD TRUMP‘s stringent measures against gang crime. “Since designating Tren de Aragua as a terrorist organization, over 600 TdA members have been arrested in the first 100 days of the administration,” McLaughlin told Fox News Digital.
This arrest follows recent revelations surrounding former New Mexico judge JOEL CANO and his wife, NANCY CANO, who were detained for allegedly harboring CRISTHIAN ORTEGA-LOPEZ, a suspected TdA member. Ortega-Lopez, who entered the U.S. illegally in December 2023, was reportedly released from custody due to overcrowding and later linked to the Canos after performing repairs at their Las Cruces home. He was arrested in February, shortly after which Judge Cano resigned from his position.
Fox News Digital has reached out to ICE Denver for additional details on JOEL MATOS-NIETO‘s criminal history. For more information, visit [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com).
**Sources:**
1. [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com)