Wisconsin Judge Found Guilty of Obstruction for Aiding Illegal Immigrant to Evade ICE Agents

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was acquited of a second charge alleging she concealed a person from arrest.

Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan, then charged with obstructing an immigration arrest, leaves after appearing in court, in Milwaukee, Wis., on May 15, 2025. Jim Vondruska/Reuters

A Wisconsin judge was found guilty of obstruction on Dec. 18 after being accused of aiding an illegal immigrant evade federal immigration agents outside her courtroom in April.

A jury found Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, 66, guilty of obstruction, a charge that carries up to five years in prison, but acquitted her of a lesser count alleging she concealed a person from arrest. Her sentencing date has not been confirmed.

Commenting on the ruling, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said the court’s decision served as a reminder that no one is above the law, including judges.

“Former Wisconsin state judge Hannah Dugan betrayed her oath and the people she served when she obstructed federal law enforcement during an immigration enforcement operation,” Blanche stated on X.

“Today, a federal jury of her peers found her guilty and sent a clear message: the American people respect law and order. Nobody is above the law. This Department will not tolerate obstruction, will enforce federal immigration law, and will hold criminals to account - even those who wear robes.”

Dugan’s attorney, Steve Biskupic, told reporters after the verdict that he was disappointed with the ruling and questioned how the jury could have reached a split verdict when the elements of both charges were virtually the same.

Dugan was arrested in April after allegedly escorting 31-year-old Eduardo Flores-Ruiz out the back door of her courtroom to avoid arrest by immigration agents waiting to detain him.

Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican native who entered the United States illegally, had been arrested in Milwaukee on March 12 over a battery incident and was later charged with misdemeanor counts of battery, domestic abuse, and causing physical harm.

FBI Director Kash Patel stated on April 26 that investigators believe Dugan “intentionally misdirected” federal immigration agents who were preparing to arrest Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse where the judge works.

Following the incident, Dugan was suspended by Wisconsin’s Supreme Court and charged with obstructing a proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent his arrest.

She had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Dugan previously filed a motion seeking to dismiss the case, arguing that she is immune from prosecution for “official acts” in her courtroom and that the 10th Amendment bars the federal government from intruding on the state’s “police power.”

The government, in turn, said Dugan was relying on civil law, not criminal, and that the Supreme Court had already ruled that judges are not immune to criminal prosecution.

A federal judge subsequently rejected Dugan’s arguments in August and ordered her to stand trial.

Stacy Robinson and The Associated Press contributed to this report.