Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan has been arrested on charges of obstruction and concealing a person from arrest after allegedly assisting an undocumented immigrant in avoiding federal authorities at the courthouse.
The incident unfolded when Dugan reportedly directed Eduardo Flores Ruiz, a Mexican national previously deported in 2013, and his attorney to exit through a private hallway, bypassing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who were waiting to detain him. Flores Ruiz, who had appeared in court on misdemeanor battery charges, was later apprehended after a brief chase outside the building.
Federal authorities arrested Dugan on April 25, and she has been released pending further proceedings. Her legal team has indicated plans to contest the charges vigorously.
The arrest has ignited sharp political debate, with some officials applauding the move as necessary enforcement of immigration law, while others warn about the broader implications for judicial authority and independence. The case remains under close scrutiny as legal arguments on both sides take shape.