Trial of judge accused of helping undocumented man evade ICE arrest begins in US
Lawyers for Dugan plan to tell the jury she followed courthouse policies directing staff to alert a supervisor about the presence of ICE agents and had acted in good faith.
Hannah Dugan, an elected judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, faces two federal charges accusing her of concealing a person from arrest and obstructing federal proceedings. (Photo: Reuters)
The trial of a judge who is accused of helping a migrant appearing in her courtroom evade an immigration arrest is set to start in the US on Monday. Hannah Dugan, an elected judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, faces two federal charges accusing her of concealing a person from arrest and obstructing federal proceedings.
Dugan, who has been suspended from judicial duties by Wisconsin’s top court, has pleaded not guilty to the charges. She faces up to six years in prison if convicted on both counts.
This courtroom sketch depicts Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, second right, with her attorneys in court as jury selection in her trial begins, Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wis. (Adele Tesnow via AP)
What did Hannah Dugan do?
The case dates back to April, when a group of agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other agencies were attempting to arrest a migrant from Mexico who was set to appear in Dugan’s Milwaukee courtroom on domestic violence charges.
According to the FBI, the Mexican national, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, re-entered the US illegally in 2013 and was charged in state court with battery in March, for which he was to appear in front of Dugan on April 18.
After learning that immigration agents were planning to arrest Flores-Ruiz, Dugan allegedly diverted them away from the hallway and also escorted the Mexican immigrant and his lawyer out of the courtroom through a non-public door after privately addressing his case.
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Despite this, agents who spotted Flores-Ruiz outside the court managed to capture him after a foot chase. He was deported to Mexico in November.
Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, charged with obstructing an immigration arrest, walks on the day she appears at court in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S., May 15, 2025. REUTERS/Jim Vondruska
ICE was arresting people from outside courts
The incident came at the peak of the Trump Administration’s crackdown on illegal immigrants, where immigration agents were picking up undocumented people from outside courts and while on their way to ICE hearings to meet the daily quota.
Many advocates and some judges have condemned the practice, arguing it dissuades people from seeking justice in courts and risks undermining public trust in the legal system.
The state Supreme Court suspended her from the Milwaukee County bench days later. Dugan tried to persuade US District Judge Lynn Adelman to dismiss the charges, arguing in filings that she’s immune from prosecution because she was acting in her official capacity as a judge. Adelman refused, ruling in September that there’s no firmly established immunity for judges from criminal prosecution.
Lawyers for Dugan plan to tell the jury she followed courthouse policies directing staff to alert a supervisor about the presence of ICE agents and had acted in good faith after two prior immigration arrests in the courthouse drew controversy, Reuters reported citing court filings.
The Trump Administration has branded Dugan an activist judge. (Photo: Reuters)
The Trump Administration has branded Dugan an activist judge. Democrats say Trump is looking to make an example of Dugan to blunt judicial opposition to the crackdown.
The rare trial of a sitting judge reflects tensions over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics, including positioning federal agents in courthouses to make arrests. The Justice Department has directed prosecutors to investigate activists and officials it accuses of hindering immigration operations.
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Hannah Dugan, an elected judge on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, faces two federal charges accusing her of concealing a person from arrest and obstructing federal proceedings. (Photo: Reuters) 
