Note: VIDEO at the end of the article
A high-profile federal case involving Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan has taken a dramatic turn following the public release of video footage that prosecutors allege shows the judge deliberately interfering with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Judge Dugan, who has served nearly a decade on the Milwaukee County bench, was arrested last month and formally indicted on two counts of obstruction of justice for her alleged role in helping an undocumented immigrant evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. If convicted, she faces up to 10 years in federal prison.
Now, newly released surveillance footage, obtained through an open records request, appears to shed further light on the sequence of events that has led to an explosive legal and political battle in Wisconsin.
The Incident at the Courthouse
The incident in question took place on April 18, during a pre-trial detention hearing involving Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant who federal officials say is linked to a violent assault under investigation in multiple jurisdictions.
According to the indictment, ICE agents had been dispatched to the courthouse with the intent of arresting Flores-Ruiz following the hearing. However, federal prosecutors allege that Judge Dugan took steps to obstruct that operation by intentionally misdirecting ICE agents.
The surveillance video, released Thursday by Milwaukee County authorities, shows Judge Dugan—in full judicial robes—speaking to federal agents near the courtroom. Prosecutors argue that she intentionally directed them toward an exit that would not lead to Flores-Ruiz, allegedly buying time for the defendant to flee the premises.
What the Video Shows
The key footage reveals a sequence of events that federal prosecutors are now using to support their case:
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Around 2:15 p.m., Judge Dugan is seen in the hallway speaking with ICE agents outside the courtroom.
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Moments later, she appears to gesture toward a side hallway, leading the agents through a door that exits the building.
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Meanwhile, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz and his attorney are captured on camera leaving the courtroom through a restricted exit typically used by jurors or court staff, which is not accessible to the general public.
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Another segment shows Flores-Ruiz entering an elevator and leaving the courthouse through a secondary entrance, out of view from the agents at the primary exit.
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In the final clips, Flores-Ruiz is seen sprinting down the street, with one ICE agent giving chase. He is eventually apprehended a block away by a second team of agents.
The footage is being cited by federal officials as evidence that Dugan’s actions were not coincidental but intentional, designed to enable Flores-Ruiz’s brief escape.
The Legal Response
Judge Dugan was arrested one week after the incident, following a federal investigation that culminated in a May 13 grand jury indictment. The charges include obstruction of justice and aiding and abetting the escape of a federal target.
Attorneys for Judge Dugan have filed a motion to dismiss the case, claiming that her actions were taken within her official capacity as a judge and are therefore protected by judicial immunity.
In a public statement, defense attorney Marla Simmons said, “Judge Dugan did not commit any crime. She was exercising her discretion within a courtroom setting, and any interaction she had with federal agents was in the context of managing courthouse procedures—not obstructing justice.”
Prosecutors have rejected that argument. Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin Carver said in court documents, “Judicial immunity does not extend to knowingly assisting a suspect in evading lawful arrest. This case is not about a judicial decision—it is about deliberate misconduct.”
A hearing on the motion to dismiss is expected to take place in early June.
Political and Public Reaction
The case has ignited fierce debate both within Wisconsin and on the national stage, tapping into broader tensions around immigration enforcement, federalism, and the role of the judiciary.
Conservative lawmakers and commentators have characterized the incident as emblematic of what they see as a systemic resistance to immigration law within progressive judicial circles.
“Any judge who uses their authority to obstruct federal law enforcement should be removed from the bench immediately,” said State Senator Mark Ridley (R-WI). “This is not about politics—this is about upholding the rule of law.”
Progressive groups, on the other hand, have rallied to Judge Dugan’s defense, viewing the prosecution as part of a larger crackdown on judicial discretion and immigrant advocacy.
“This is a political prosecution dressed up as a legal case,” said Elena Vargas, director of the Wisconsin Immigrant Rights Network. “Judge Dugan’s decades of service and fairness on the bench speak for themselves. This is clearly a retaliatory move aimed at intimidating judges who don’t rubber-stamp ICE operations.”
Who Is Judge Hannah Dugan?
Judge Dugan, 58, is a respected figure in Milwaukee’s legal community. A graduate of Marquette University Law School, she was appointed to the bench in 2016 and later elected to a full term. She previously worked in both civil rights litigation and criminal defense.
Her record includes advocacy for underserved communities and consistent support for bail reform, restorative justice programs, and immigrant legal rights.
While she has not commented publicly since her arrest, colleagues have described her as a principled and even-tempered jurist.
“This is a judge who believes deeply in due process and fairness,” said former colleague Judge Thomas Radcliffe. “I find it hard to believe she would ever willingly obstruct justice.”
A Precedent-Setting Case?
Legal analysts say the outcome of this case could have far-reaching implications for judicial conduct and the extent of immunity from prosecution.
“There are very few cases where a sitting judge has been criminally charged for actions taken in a courtroom setting,” said Dr. Rebekah Lang, a legal scholar at the University of Wisconsin Law School. “If prosecutors succeed here, it could open the door to more aggressive scrutiny of judges’ interactions with law enforcement—especially on hot-button issues like immigration.”
The Department of Justice has not indicated whether it is pursuing investigations into similar incidents elsewhere. However, ICE officials have praised the indictment as a message to local governments and judiciary officials who, in their view, interfere with immigration enforcement.
“This sends a clear signal,” said ICE spokesperson Andrea Rojas, “that no one—no matter their position—is above the law when it comes to obstructing federal operations.”
What’s Next?
With her legal team preparing for a high-stakes battle in court, Judge Dugan remains free on bail, continuing to deny any wrongdoing. Meanwhile, her courtroom docket has been reassigned pending the outcome of the criminal case.
As the legal and political fallout continues to unfold, one thing is certain: the release of the video footage has placed this already controversial case under an even brighter spotlight—raising urgent questions about the line between judicial discretion and criminal conduct in the age of aggressive immigration enforcement.
https://rumble.com/v6tqol9-new-footage-shows-wisconsin-judge-shielding-illegal-alien-from-deportation.html
