A federal jury in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has found Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing federal immigration agents (ICE) during their attempt to detain an undocumented immigrant in April.
The charges accuse Dugan of intervening in the arrest of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national charged with a minor assault, by questioning the legality of the ICE operation and aiding his exit from the court through a side door designated for jury members.
Prosecutors argued that the judge "crafted an escape route" for the immigrant after directing the agents to the county's chief judge's chambers and hastening the defendant's hearing. Moments later, Flores-Ruiz was apprehended outside the building and subsequently deported to Mexico.
During the trial, federal agents testified that Dugan's demeanor was "angry" and "defiant," and she reportedly stated she would "face the consequences" of her actions.
Although Dugan was acquitted of the lesser charge of harboring a person to avoid arrest, she was found guilty of obstructing a federal procedure, a felony that carries a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
Defense attorney Jason Luczak argued that the judge acted amid confusion over the cooperation guidelines between courts and immigration, which were under review at the time. "The jury has the power to correct this injustice," Luczak stated in his closing argument.
The case has sparked a heated debate in the United States regarding the role of local judges in the face of federal immigration policies, particularly in light of the tightened enforcement of immigration laws during President Donald Trump's second term.
Until 2018, state and local courts were considered "safe zones" where federal agents were prohibited from making arrests. However, the Trump administration expanded ICE's authority to operate in these spaces, citing the need to enhance national security and combat illegal immigration.
The sentencing of Judge Dugan will be announced in the coming weeks by the federal court in Wisconsin's Eastern District.
Legal Ramifications and Immigration Policy
What was Judge Dugan convicted of?
Judge Dugan was convicted of obstructing a federal procedure, a felony with a potential sentence of up to five years in prison.
How did the Trump administration affect ICE operations in local courts?
The Trump administration expanded ICE's authority to conduct operations in state and local courts, arguing it was necessary to strengthen national security and combat illegal immigration.
What impact has this case had on the debate over local versus federal authority in immigration matters?
The case has intensified the debate over the role of local judges and their authority in the context of federal immigration enforcement, especially following the policy changes under the Trump administration.