Wisconsin Judge Indicted for Allegedly Helping Immigrant Evade ICE Arrest

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 13, 2025, on charges of obstruction and concealing a person from arrest. The charges stem from an incident on April 18, 2025, when Dugan allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant facing misdemeanor charges, evade arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Prosecutors claim that Dugan directed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to exit the courtroom through a private jury door to avoid ICE agents who were waiting outside. This alleged act of interference led to Flores-Ruiz briefly evading authorities, though he was apprehended following a foot chase outside the courthouse.

Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national, had been previously deported in 2013 and reentered the U.S. illegally. At the time of the incident, he was facing misdemeanor battery charges related to a domestic dispute. The involvement of Judge Dugan has sparked widespread attention, raising questions about the role of judges in such cases and the legal limits of their authority. In the aftermath of the indictment, the Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspended Dugan from her judicial duties while she faces these serious charges.

Dugan’s legal team, including former U.S. Attorney Steven M. Biskupic, has denied the allegations, asserting that the judge acted in line with her judicial responsibilities and with a commitment to due process. Dugan is scheduled to formally enter a plea on May 15, 2025. The case has drawn significant media attention and has the potential to impact not only Dugan’s career but also broader discussions about immigration law enforcement and the judiciary’s role in such matters.