Saturday, March 29, 2025
Wisconsin judge Dugan faces a federal indictment after allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant evade ICE agents at a Milwaukee courthouse.
Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, now faces federal charges for allegedly obstructing U.S. immigration authorities. On Tuesday, a grand jury charged her with concealing a person from arrest and obstruction of proceedings, intensifying the conflict between federal immigration policies and local jurisdiction practices.
Dugan was arrested last month at her courthouse, sparking protests and political controversy. Her arrest has fueled accusations that the Trump administration is using her case to send a message to other judges about opposing immigration crackdowns.
The federal indictment charges Wisconsin judge Dugan after she allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant, escape arrest on April 18. Prosecutors claim Dugan learned about the presence of ICE agents in the courthouse and helped Flores-Ruiz leave through a back door.
Court documents reveal Flores-Ruiz had illegally re-entered the U.S. after being deported in 2013. He was facing misdemeanor domestic abuse charges in Milwaukee County and appeared in Dugan’s courtroom that morning.
Witnesses report that Dugan appeared visibly upset when she learned about ICE agents in the courthouse. An affidavit states she called the situation “absurd” before leaving the bench and returning moments later to guide Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer out of the courthouse.
Federal agents eventually caught Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse after a foot chase. The Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Dugan from her judicial duties in late April, citing the need to preserve public confidence. A reserve judge is temporarily handling her caseload.
Dugan’s legal team issued a brief statement, maintaining her innocence: “Judge Dugan looks forward to clearing her name in court.”
If convicted, Dugan faces up to six years in prison. Her case has sparked national debate about judicial independence and the role of local courts in immigration enforcement.
Dugan’s case mirrors a 2018 incident involving a Massachusetts judge. That judge was accused of helping an undocumented immigrant avoid ICE. The case was dismissed, but it ignited a national conversation about the power of the judiciary versus immigration enforcement.
Senator Bernie Sanders criticized the indictment, claiming, “Trump’s arrest of Judge Dugan is about silencing opposition, not immigration.”
Federal officials insist the charges reflect Dugan’s violation of legal duties. “Judges must uphold the law, not obstruct it,” a Department of Justice spokesperson stated.
Dugan will enter a plea in court on Thursday. This case remains under intense scrutiny as the nation debates the balance between federal power and judicial autonomy.
