FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest of a Milwaukee County judge who is accused of helping an undocumented immigrant evade federal agents. Judge Hannah Dugan allegedly guided Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers away from the defendant, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, during a court hearing last week.
The incident occurred at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, where ICE agents arrived with a warrant to arrest Ruiz after a hearing before Judge Dugan. Patel stated that Dugan directed the agents to wait in another judge’s office and then instructed Ruiz to leave the courtroom through a side door, allowing him to escape. Patel expressed concern that Dugan’s actions put the public at risk.
The FBI confirmed that Ruiz was apprehended shortly after the incident. Patel’s post about the arrest has since been deleted, but he mentioned that more information would be shared soon. Chief Judge Carl Ashley sent an email to other judges about the situation, stating that ICE agents had followed proper protocols. Dugan, however, claimed that she did not see a warrant presented to her.
This isn’t the first time judges have faced scrutiny for their actions regarding immigration enforcement. During the Trump administration, a Massachusetts judge was charged with obstructing ICE but later had the charges dropped after agreeing to judicial discipline.
The Milwaukee County Courthouse has seen increased ICE activity recently, with two other undocumented immigrants arrested in the courthouse in the past two months. The situation raises questions about the role of judges in immigration matters and the balance between legal obligations and personal beliefs.