A Wisconsin judge has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of obstructing immigration enforcement after allegedly assisting an undocumented migrant in evading arrest. The case has ignited political controversy in the United States, drawing sharp reactions from both supporters and critics of the country’s immigration policies.
Hannah Dugan, a 66-year-old circuit court judge in Milwaukee County, was arrested last month and now faces up to five years in prison if convicted of the federal obstruction charge. The indictment accuses her of deliberately helping a Mexican national avoid detention by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents who were waiting to apprehend him outside her courtroom.
The incident is said to have taken place in April, when federal officials arrived at the courthouse to detain 30-year-old Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was facing minor criminal charges. Prosecutors allege that Judge Dugan, upon learning of the agents’ presence, became visibly upset and helped Flores-Ruiz exit the courtroom via a jury door—avoiding the hallway where agents were stationed.
According to the criminal complaint, Flores-Ruiz briefly managed to flee the building but was later arrested while attempting to evade law enforcement.
The arrest of Judge Dugan has drawn mixed reactions across the political spectrum. Democrats have widely criticised the charges, arguing they set a dangerous precedent and undermine judicial independence, while many Republicans have praised the move as a necessary show of resolve in enforcing immigration laws.
US Attorney General Pam Bondi strongly defended the decision to prosecute Dugan, warning others against similar actions. “We will find you,” she said in a televised interview with Fox News. “We’re sending a very strong message today.”
Dugan, who has served on the bench since her election in 2016, has denied any wrongdoing. Her legal team released a statement asserting her innocence and expressed confidence that she would be exonerated in court. She is expected to enter a not-guilty plea during a hearing scheduled for Thursday.
The case also comes amid ongoing legal clashes between the Trump administration and sections of the judiciary over immigration enforcement. President Donald Trump, who campaigned on a hardline immigration agenda, has faced repeated pushback from courts over policies that critics say sidestep constitutional protections and due process.