A Wisconsin judge who swore to uphold the law now faces serious federal charges for helping an illegal alien escape Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
A federal grand jury indicted Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan for directing an illegal alien to slip out through a nonpublic jury door while ICE agents waited to arrest him.
The case exposes how some officials are actively undermining immigration enforcement efforts.
The indictment follows Dugan’s arrest last month and charges her with obstructing or impeding a proceeding, a felony, and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest, a misdemeanor.
The incident occurred in Dugan’s courtroom during a pretrial hearing in a domestic abuse case involving Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican alien illegally in the country.
According to court documents, Dugan became visibly angry when ICE agents appeared in her courtroom seeking to arrest Flores-Ruiz.
She pointed out that they lacked a judicial warrant and directed the agents to the chief judge’s office.
Dugan then escorted Flores-Ruiz out of the courtroom through a nonpublic jury door, allowing him to evade arrest.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has already taken action, suspending Judge Dugan from the bench while the case proceeds.
If convicted, Dugan faces up to 6 years in prison and fines of up to $350,000—serious consequences for a sitting judge who chose to obstruct federal law enforcement.
“If you are harboring a fugitive, we don’t care who you are, if you are helping hide…anyone who is illegally in this country, we will come after you and we will prosecute you. We will find you,” declared U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi.
New: Grand jury indicts suspended Milwaukee County Hannah Dugan on charges she helped a defendant escape federal immigration enforcement. pic.twitter.com/Ud8Xx1K5AK
— Jason Calvi (@JasonCalvi) May 13, 2025
The case highlights the ongoing battle between federal immigration enforcement and local resistance.
Milwaukee County’s Board of Supervisors has previously passed resolutions opposing ICE operations at the courthouse.
Local Democrat leaders argued that ICE presence discourages attendance at hearings and reporting of crimes.
Dugan’s attorney maintains her innocence, stating: “As she said after her unnecessary arrest, Judge Dugan asserts her innocence and looks forward to being vindicated in court.”
However, the indictment means a federal grand jury found sufficient evidence to move forward with the case after reviewing the facts.
The Trump administration has made it clear that no one is above the law when it comes to immigration enforcement.
Judge Dugan’s indictment sends a powerful message that those who use their positions of authority to undermine federal immigration laws will face consequences.
This prosecution represents a significant step in restoring the rule of law and ensuring that immigration laws are properly enforced.
ICE arrests in the Milwaukee County courthouse have increased since President Donald Trump retook office, part of his administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement.
The Dugan case demonstrates the administration’s commitment to holding accountable those who interfere with legitimate immigration enforcement, regardless of their position or status.
Judge Dugan, who was released on bond after her arrest, has become a flashpoint in the national immigration debate.
While many Democrats and liberal activists have criticized the prosecution as an attack on the judiciary, supporters of stronger immigration enforcement see it as a necessary step to ensure that no one, not even judges, can obstruct federal law enforcement.
