A Milwaukee County judge stands trial on federal charges for allegedly helping a violent illegal immigrant escape ICE arrest, marking an unprecedented criminal prosecution that could send a sitting state judge to prison for up to six years.
Story Highlights
- Judge Hannah Dugan faces obstruction and concealment charges for allegedly helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz evade federal immigration arrest
- Flores-Ruiz had violent criminal history including strangulation, battery, and domestic abuse charges before his courthouse escape
- Federal agents testified Dugan’s actions forced them to chase the illegal immigrant through traffic instead of safely arresting him inside
- Case represents first criminal prosecution of sitting state judge for interference with federal immigration enforcement
Judge Allegedly Orchestrated Courthouse Escape
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan actively facilitated the escape of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a previously deported Mexican national with extensive violent criminal charges. Federal prosecutors allege Dugan learned ICE agents were waiting to arrest Flores-Ruiz at his battery hearing, then deliberately diverted the officers to the chief judge’s office while secretly escorting the illegal immigrant out through a private jury door. This calculated interference directly undermined federal law enforcement operations designed to remove dangerous criminal aliens from American communities.
Violent Criminal History Reveals Public Safety Threat
Flores-Ruiz represents exactly the type of dangerous illegal immigrant that ICE prioritizes for removal. DHS officials describe him as a “criminal illegal alien from Mexico” with charges including strangulation and suffocation, battery, and domestic abuse. He had already been deported once but illegally reentered the United States in 2013, continuing his pattern of criminal behavior. Judge Dugan’s interference allowed this violent repeat offender to temporarily escape justice, forcing federal agents into a dangerous street pursuit that could have endangered innocent civilians.
Federal Agents Detail Dangerous Consequences
Testimony from federal law enforcement officers reveals the serious operational and safety risks created by Dugan’s obstruction. FBI Agent Phillip Jackling testified that his team became “split and distracted” when Dugan sent officers away, compromising their coordinated arrest plan. CBP Supervisory Officer Joseph Zuraw described how Dugan angrily approached him, jerked her thumb over her shoulder, and told him to “get out” while she facilitated Flores-Ruiz’s escape. Instead of a controlled courthouse arrest, agents were forced to chase the fleeing criminal through traffic outside the building.
Judicial Immunity Claims Rejected
Dugan’s attempt to hide behind judicial immunity failed when U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman ruled that no established immunity protects judges from federal criminal prosecution. Her defense team claims she was following a draft courthouse policy and had no intent to obstruct, but courtroom audio played for jurors included Dugan telling her court reporter “I’ll get the heat,” suggesting she knew her actions were problematic. Even a fellow Milwaukee judge testified she was “shocked” by Dugan’s conduct, indicating her behavior fell far outside normal judicial practice and represented a dangerous escalation of activist judicial interference with immigration enforcement.
A Wisconsin judge, Hannah Dugan, has gone on trial in Milwaukee on federal charges that she helped a migrant evade an ICE arrest by diverting agents and escorting him out of her courtroom, a case reflecting broader tensions over immigration enforcement. https://t.co/ljCjPwvUHI
— Mark Bowron (@MarkBowron420) December 16, 2025
This case sends a clear message that judges cannot place themselves above federal law or obstruct immigration enforcement operations. With President Trump back in office and serious immigration enforcement resuming, judicial activists who interfere with ICE operations will face real consequences for undermining the rule of law and endangering public safety.
Sources:
At trial of Milwaukee judge, officers say her actions made their job dangerous