Feds bust Wisconsin judge for allegedly helping illegal migrant accused of punching victim 30 times evade ICE agents
A seasoned Wisconsin judge found herself in hot water after being arrested for allegedly aiding a Mexican illegal migrant in evading Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents within her courtroom. Judge Hannah Dugan, with almost a decade of experience on the Milwaukee County bench, is facing charges of obstruction of justice and concealing Eduardo Flores-Ruiz following a pre-trial hearing.
The arrest of Judge Dugan took place after an ICE officer and a US Customs and Border Protection official arrived at her courtroom on April 18 with a warrant for Flores-Ruiz’s arrest for illegally entering the US. However, they were instructed by a security guard and a sheriff’s sergeant to wait outside until after the hearing. Flores-Ruiz, who had a prior deportation in 2013, was facing misdemeanor battery charges for a physical altercation where he allegedly punched another individual multiple times.
During the pre-trial conference, federal agents were spotted in the hallway by a public defender, prompting Judge Dugan to confront them. Witnesses reported that Dugan appeared visibly upset and directed the agents away from her courtroom to another judge’s office. After the hearing, Dugan escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to a non-public area of the courthouse, where they were advised not to arrest him.
Subsequently, Flores-Ruiz was apprehended by FBI and DEA agents after a brief foot chase outside the courthouse. FBI Director Kash Patel initially announced the arrest in a now-deleted social media post, stating that Judge Dugan’s actions posed a risk to public safety. Attorney General Pam Bondi later confirmed the arrest, emphasizing that nobody is above the law.
Flores-Ruiz, who had been involved in a violent altercation in March, is now in ICE custody. Judge Dugan’s arrest has stirred controversy, especially in light of the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policies. While Milwaukee has not officially declared itself a sanctuary city, Mayor Cavalier Johnson has expressed openness to migrants, albeit without formal designation.
Dugan’s arrest comes amid a broader trend of judicial officials facing legal consequences for their involvement in aiding individuals with questionable legal statuses. The judge, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin Law School, has a background in public interest law before her judicial career. The incident serves as a reminder of the complexities and challenges faced by those in the legal system, particularly when it comes to immigration enforcement.
