A federal jury in the United States has found Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing a federal proceeding after determining that she helped a migrant evade a planned immigration arrest outside her courtroom. The verdict, delivered on Thursday, marks a legal victory for President Donald Trump’s administration as it pushes to deter interference with its aggressive immigration enforcement policies. Dugan, 66, an elected judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, was acquitted of a separate, lesser charge of concealing a person from arrest, according to media reports.
Prosecutors said Dugan intentionally diverted Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents and escorted a Mexican migrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, and his lawyer through a non-public exit while the man was scheduled to be arrested following a court appearance on domestic violence charges. Although Flores-Ruiz briefly avoided the agents, he was later apprehended outside the courthouse after a short foot chase. Dugan had pleaded not guilty, with her lawyers arguing she was following internal courthouse procedures amid confusion caused by earlier ICE arrests.
The case has highlighted growing tensions over the Trump administration’s expanded use of courthouses as venues for immigration arrests. Justice Department officials defended the prosecution, saying no public official is above the law, while critics argue such tactics undermine trust in the justice system and deter vulnerable communities from seeking legal recourse. Dugan, first elected in 2016, previously worked with Catholic Charities and the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, focusing on services for refugees and low-income individuals.
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