“Wisconsin Judge Accused of Aiding Illegal Immigrant — Faces Federal Charges”
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan pleaded not guilty in federal court Thursday to charges that she obstructed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting an undocumented man in her courtroom. The charges stem from an April 18 incident involving Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who had previously been deported and is now facing new domestic abuse charges in Wisconsin.
Judge Dugan entered her plea during an arraignment hearing—an early procedural step in the criminal process where defendants typically plead not guilty to preserve their right to trial and allow time for legal defense preparation.
Federal prosecutors have charged Dugan with concealing an individual to prevent arrest and obstruction of justice. If convicted, she could face up to six years in prison.
According to the criminal complaint, Dugan allegedly took deliberate steps to help Flores-Ruiz avoid apprehension by ICE agents who were present at the Milwaukee County courthouse to arrest him for illegal reentry into the United States. After reportedly being alerted to the agents’ presence by her courtroom clerk, Dugan exited the bench, retreated to her chambers, and later confronted ICE agents with what witnesses described as an “angry” and “confrontational” demeanor. She allegedly questioned the agents’ authority and demanded they speak with the courthouse’s chief judge.
Following the confrontation, court documents allege Dugan returned to the courtroom, told Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to follow her, and escorted them through a private jury door typically reserved for jurors, deputies, and in-custody defendants. ICE agents ultimately apprehended Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse following a brief foot pursuit.
Flores-Ruiz was previously deported in 2013 and reentered the U.S. illegally, according to federal records. State court filings show he was facing three misdemeanor domestic abuse charges in Milwaukee County at the time of his court appearance.
Dugan’s legal team has filed a motion to dismiss the case, arguing she acted within her official judicial capacity and is immune from federal prosecution. They also contend that the federal government overstepped its authority by interfering in a state courtroom, thereby infringing on Wisconsin’s sovereignty.
“The judge was performing her duties consistent with her oath of office,” her attorneys stated. “Criminalizing a judge’s courtroom decisions raises serious constitutional questions.”
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has since suspended Dugan, citing the need to maintain public confidence in the judiciary amid the ongoing investigation.
John Vaudreuil, a former federal prosecutor in Wisconsin, suggested that the case may be politically driven. “This is being treated as a national message,” he said, adding that senior figures in the Trump administration, such as Attorney General Pam Bondi or Deputy AG Todd Blanche, are likely guiding the case. That level of oversight, he noted, may limit the chances for a plea deal.
Vaudreuil also noted that Dugan’s attorneys may prefer to take the case to trial, where public sentiment around immigration enforcement and judicial independence could play a role.
The case now moves forward to pretrial motions and hearings, with the possibility of a trial in the months ahead.
Rewritten. Source article posted here: https://www.wmur.com/article/wisconsin-judge-not-guilty-immigration-charges/64780804
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