Politics
Milwaukee Judge Convicted Of Felony For Shielding Illegal Alien From ICE
A jury on Thursday found Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan — who was charged with one felony and one misdemeanor for helping an illegal alien avoid federal immigration agents — guilty on one of the two counts.
Federal prosecutors had charged the Wisconsin judge back in April with obstruction, a felony, and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor. The jury acquitted Dugan on the concealment charge, but found her guilty on the felony obstruction count after deliberating for six hours.
Dugan faces up to five years in prison when she is eventually sentenced, though no date has been set as of this report.
Hannah Dugan serves as the judge for Branch 31 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin
Photo: TMJ4
Dugan had been charged with concealing Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal alien who was implicated in a vicious assault, from being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents following a pre-trial detention hearing.
Footage released prior to trial shows the judge speaking with federal agents who were waiting outside the court room to make the arrest.
The April 18 footage, which was released by Milwaukee County through an open records request, shows agents walking down a hallway after being directed through a door by Judge Dugan. This, according to federal prosecutors, indicated that Dugan was attempting to distract the agents as they were attempting to carry out their duties.
At the same time, the video shows Flores-Ruiz and his attorney exiting the courtroom through a restricted exit typically used by jurors shortly after ICE agents left the building. One federal agent could be seen following Flores-Ruiz as he entered an elevator and later left the building, the footage also shows.
Flores-Ruiz is later seen running for about a block before he was apprehended by ICE agents.
During the trial, prosecutors played an audio recording from Dugan’s courtroom captured on April 21, 2025, where she is heard whispering to her court reporter shortly after learning ICE agents were waiting for Flores-Ruiz. In the clip, Dugan says, “I’ll do it. I’ll get the heat” before directing Flores-Ruiz and his attorney, Mercedes De La Rosa, through a private jury door leading to a secured hallway.
This audio was highlighted in opening statements and during witness testimony, including from FBI Special Agent Jeffery Baker.
In addition to the “get the heat” audio, prosecutors presented a two-minute clip where Dugan whispered to her court reporter about Flores-Ruiz using the private exit and taking the stairs “downstairs.” Video footage showed Dugan becoming “visibly angry” upon learning ICE was present before escorting Flores-Ruiz through the jury door, which leads to a non-public area.
Emails and other recordings were also introduced, including Dugan directing the attorney to “take your client out and come back and get a date,” which witnesses testified was highly unusual and suggested urgency to remove Flores-Ruiz quickly.
On December 17, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Rebecca Cervera testified that Dugan approached her three days after the incident and admitted she was “in the doghouse” with the chief judge for trying to “help that guy,” referring to Flores-Ruiz. Cervera described being “shocked” and “mortified” upon learning Dugan had led Flores-Ruiz out the private door, stating that such actions were outside a judge’s normal role and not standard protocol.
Following Thursday’s guilty verdict, U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel denied the case was political and urged people to accept the verdict peacefully.
“Some have sought to make this about a larger political battle,” Schimel said. “While this case is serious for all involved, it is ultimately about a single day, a single bad day, in a public courthouse. The defendant is certainly not evil. Nor is she a martyr for some greater cause.”
