A Milwaukee County judge is at the center of a federal controversy after allegedly helping an illegal immigrant evade arrest inside a courthouse, despite the man facing multiple domestic abuse charges.
Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI and charged with obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest, on Friday, April 25th. The man she helped, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, a Mexican national, had been ordered removed from the U.S. back in 2013 under an expedited removal order. Despite this, he remained in the country and committed several serious crimes during his stay.
“Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week,” said FBI Director Kash Patel in a post on X.
Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week.
We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 25, 2025
According to the complaint, on April 18th, ICE officers informed Judge Dugan that they had an administrative warrant for Flores Ruiz’s arrest. Despite this, Dugan allegedly escorted him and his attorney out a jury door, bypassing the federal agents waiting for him. Ruiz was arrested shortly after, despite the judge’s efforts.
Judge Dugan was arrested Friday morning at the courthouse, and released after a brief court hearing. Her attorney claimed she “wholeheartedly protests the arrest”.
But federal prosecutors are not backing down. The incident has raised serious questions about a sitting judge intervening to help an undocumented and accused violent offender escape a lawful arrest. If convicted, Judge Dugan faces up to six years in prison.
