Wisconsin judge arrested for helping illegal migrant 'evade arrest'
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A Wisconsin Democratic judge was arrested on the job for allegedly helping an undocumented migrant evade arrest.

Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge, has been accused of hindering the arrest of Eduardo Flores Ruiz, aged 30. The incident occurred at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, where Dugan was subsequently apprehended on Friday.

‘The FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week,’ FBI director Kash Patel said in a since-deleted X post.

‘We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest.’ 

Patel added: ‘Thankfully our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public.’ 

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested Flores Ruiz for three charges of misdemeanor battery after his court appearance with judge Dugan on April 18.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, judge Dugan has been accused of hiding the migrant and his attorney in a jury deliberation room. 

But sources told the outlet that after ICE showed up to arrest the migrant, Dugan took him and his lawyer to a side door in the courtroom and directed them to a private hallway into the public area.

Milwaukee County circuit judge Hannah Dugan is accused of obstructing the arrest of an undocumented migrant

Milwaukee County circuit judge Hannah Dugan is accused of obstructing the arrest of an undocumented migrant

She was taken into custody Friday at the Milwaukee County Courthouse

She was taken into custody Friday at the Milwaukee County Courthouse

Chief Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Carl Ashley said in an email that ICE agents had been told to wait until Flores Ruiz’ hearing had ended.

 Flores Ruiz, from Mexico, was charged with batter over an incident on March 12; he is accused of punching another person 30 times after they complained he was playing music too loud. 

Dugan has been the Milwaukee County Circuit judge for nine years after taking office in 2016 and winning re-election in 2022.

Her current term is set to expire on August, 2028. 

Dugan’s arrest just a day after former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were taken into custody on Thursday following a raid on their home in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The couple are facing charges of evidence tampering after they were allegedly caught harboring an illegal immigrant, named as suspected Venezuelan gang member Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, in their home.  

Prosecutors say the alleged Venezuelan gangster had been living with the judge and his family and often posted images with them on his social media.

In shocking images that emerged this week, Ortega-Lopez was seen enjoying Christmas with the couple as the judge and his wife posed with firearms.

FBI director Kash Patel has since deleted the post where he announced the judge's arrest

FBI director Kash Patel has since deleted the post where he announced the judge’s arrest

Dugan's arrest just a day after former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife were arrested after being accused of harboring an undocumented gang member

Dugan’s arrest just a day after former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife were arrested after being accused of harboring an undocumented gang member 

On one occasion the couple smiled and posed with a gun which was handed over by the alleged gang member

The judge's wife was seen on the alleged gangster's social media brandishing a weapon

The alleged gangster’s social media accounts occasionally featured Cano and his wife. On one occasion the couple smiled and posed with a gun which was handed over by the alleged gang member

The arrest of Cano and his wife follows the detainment of Ortega-Lopez in February after a separate raid on the home, which led the judge to resign from his position.

According to authorities who raided Cano’s home on Thursday, investigators discovered evidence linking Ortega-Lopez to the Tren de Aragua gang.

This included text messages, images of tattoos and gang-related clothing.

Following Ortega-Lopez’s arrest, further investigations also reportedly led to the seizure of four firearms from the home of the judge’s daughter, April Cano.

Ortega-Lopez is facing up to 15 years in prison if convicted on federal charges of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm.

Prosecutors say Ortega-Lopez entered the United States illegally from Mexico in December 2023 and met Cano’s wife Nancy when he was hired to install a glass door for her.

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