Milwaukee Judge Faces Federal Charges After Allegedly Helping Immigrant Evade ICE

Startling new surveillance footage from the Milwaukee County Courthouse has thrust Judge Hannah Dugan into the spotlight, revealing a tense encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The 65-year-old judge, now facing federal charges, allegedly guided an undocumented Mexican national, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, out of the courthouse through a private exit, sidestepping ICE’s attempt to apprehend him on April 18.

The video, obtained via an open records request, captures Dugan, robed in black, confronting ICE agents in a courthouse hallway. Prosecutors claim she demanded a judicial warrant—despite ICE holding a valid immigration arrest warrant for Flores-Ruiz, a domestic battery suspect—and directed agents to the chief judge’s office. Seizing the moment, Dugan allegedly skipped Flores-Ruiz’s hearing and personally escorted him and his attorney out a back door, leaving victims of his alleged crimes waiting inside.

Flores-Ruiz, charged with three misdemeanor battery counts, didn’t get far. Footage shows him sprinting alongside the courthouse before ICE agents apprehended him a block away. Dugan, indicted for obstruction of proceedings and unlawful concealment, faces up to six years in prison. She’s pleaded not guilty, with her legal team arguing judicial immunity shields her actions, claiming immunity is an 'absolute bar' to prosecution.

This case raises thorny questions about judicial authority and immigration enforcement. Dugan’s arrest, just a week after the incident, underscores the Justice Department’s resolve. As the courtroom drama unfolds, the footage offers a rare glimpse into a judge’s bold move that’s sparked fierce debate.