Federal Grand Jury Indicts Judge Over Immigration Clash \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan was indicted for allegedly helping an undocumented man evade ICE agents in her courtroom. The charges have intensified tensions between local officials and the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. Dugan denies wrongdoing and is set to enter a plea this week.
Quick Looks
- Judge Hannah Dugan indicted for obstruction and harboring charges.
- Accused of helping undocumented man exit via jury door.
- Indictment stems from incident during April 18 court hearing.
- Man was later arrested after a foot chase outside courthouse.
- Dugan could face up to six years in prison.
- Case draws comparisons to earlier Massachusetts judge case.
- State Supreme Court suspended Dugan from the bench.
- Her attorneys say she looks forward to vindication.
Deep Look
In a high-profile case now drawing national scrutiny, a federal grand jury indicted Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on Tuesday for allegedly helping an undocumented man evade arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a court appearance.
The indictment, issued in Wisconsin, charges Dugan with obstruction of justice and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, after prosecutors allege she knowingly directed a defendant out of a back jury door to avoid ICE agents waiting in the hallway of her courtroom.
From Bench to Federal Courtroom
Judge Dugan, a longtime jurist, has now become the latest figure caught in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, which critics say has increasingly targeted not just undocumented individuals but local officials who defy federal priorities. Her indictment follows a growing trend of clashes between state-level judicial discretion and federal enforcement mandates.
The incident occurred on April 18, when Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented man who had previously been deported in 2013, appeared in Dugan’s courtroom for a hearing related to misdemeanor domestic abuse charges filed in March.
Court records and affidavits reveal that Dugan became aware of ICE agents inside the courthouse, alerted by her clerk, who had learned from a defense attorney that agents were stationed outside her courtroom.
An Unfolding Confrontation
The affidavit describes how Dugan, appearing visibly angry and calling the ICE presence “absurd,” left the bench and conferred with another judge before confronting ICE officers directly. Witnesses described her demeanor as “confrontational and angry.”
She reportedly challenged the agents’ authority and demanded they speak to the chief judge, temporarily pulling them away from the area. Meanwhile, Flores-Ruiz remained in the courtroom, where, upon Dugan’s return, she allegedly instructed him and his lawyer to “come with me” and guided them through a restricted jury exit door typically used only by authorized personnel.
Despite this maneuver, federal agents apprehended Flores-Ruiz outside the building following a short foot pursuit.
At the time, Flores-Ruiz was out on a signature bond in his domestic abuse case, meaning he had not been detained. However, court documents say his reentry into the U.S. after a prior deportation made him a priority target for federal enforcement.
Legal and Political Ramifications
Dugan now faces up to six years in prison if convicted on both counts. Her legal team issued a brief statement reiterating her innocence and stating that she looks forward to vindication in court. She is expected to enter a plea on Thursday.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Milwaukee has declined public comment, citing the ongoing nature of the proceedings.
The case bears striking resemblance to an earlier prosecution during the first Trump administration, in which a Massachusetts judge was accused of allowing a defendant to escape ICE via a courthouse back door. That case was later dismissed, but it sent shockwaves through the legal community over the scope of judicial discretion and the independence of courts.
State Supreme Court Steps In
In response to the indictment, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Dugan from her duties in late April, citing the need to “preserve public confidence in the judiciary.” A reserve judge has since been appointed to handle her caseload.
The suspension highlights growing legal concerns over the boundaries between local authority and federal immigration enforcement. Dugan, a judge in one of Wisconsin’s most diverse and densely populated counties, had previously drawn praise from immigrant advocacy groups for her courtroom’s procedural fairness.
A Broader Immigration Flashpoint
Dugan’s prosecution is already sparking a wider debate over the role of state judges in protecting vulnerable populations versus enforcing federal law. Democrats and immigrant rights advocates have accused the Trump administration of trying to intimidate judicial officers who appear unsympathetic to the immigration agenda.
“This is about sending a message to judges across the country: don’t get in ICE’s way,” said a Democratic state legislator who asked not to be named. “It’s chilling, and it undermines judicial independence.”
Whether the court finds Dugan guilty or not, her case is now emblematic of the fraught legal terrain between sanctuary jurisdictions and federal power — a legal and moral battleground that continues to unfold across courthouses nationwide.
Federal Grand Jury
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