On April 25, 2025, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested and charged with obstructing a federal immigration operation involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The charges stem from an incident on April 18 at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, where Dugan allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a 30-year-old Mexican national, evade ICE agents attempting to detain him.
The Incident Involving Eduardo Flores-Ruiz
Flores-Ruiz was in court for a pretrial conference on misdemeanor battery charges linked to a domestic abuse case. ICE agents, acting on an administrative warrant, were present due to his prior deportation in 2013 and an outstanding removal order. According to a 13-page criminal complaint, Dugan learned of the agents’ presence and expressed frustration, allegedly calling the situation “absurd.” After consulting with another judge and directing ICE agents to speak with the chief judge, Dugan reportedly led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a restricted jury door into a non-public hallway, allowing them to exit to a public area and leave the courthouse.
ICE Apprehends Flores-Ruiz After Courthouse Escape
ICE agents pursued Flores-Ruiz after learning he had left and apprehended him nearby following a short foot chase. He is now detained at Dodge Detention Facility in Juneau, Wisconsin.
Dugan was charged with two felonies: obstruction of a federal proceeding (punishable by up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine) and concealing a person to prevent arrest (up to five years and a $250,000 fine). She appeared in court on April 25 and was released on her own recognizance, with arraignment set for May 15.
Federal authorities, including FBI Director Kash Patel, claim Dugan knowingly interfered with ICE operations. The criminal complaint includes surveillance footage and witness testimony to support the allegations. Her defense attorney, Craig Mastantuono, argued that she did not pose a threat to public safety and that the facts are in dispute.
First Local Official Charged Under Trump’s Second Term
Dugan’s arrest marks the first known instance of a local official being charged for interfering with immigration enforcement under President Trump’s second administration. The administration has prioritized immigration crackdowns, with directives from high-level officials like Tom Homan and Attorney General Pam Bondi encouraging legal action against obstruction. A January memo from the Department of Justice further instructed prosecutors to pursue such cases aggressively.
As the case progresses, it may shape the federal government’s approach to holding local officials accountable for perceived interference with immigration enforcement efforts.
