Wisconsin Judge Pleads Not Guilty to Charges Tied to Immigration Arrest Evasion

A Wisconsin judge accused of helping an undocumented immigrant evade arrest by federal immigration agents has pleaded not guilty to two felony charges in a case that is drawing national attention amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, as per Al Jazeera.

Judge Hannah Dugan, who serves on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, is facing charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. If convicted on both counts, she could face up to six years in prison.

Her attorney, Steven Biskupic, entered the not guilty plea on her behalf during a short arraignment hearing in federal court on Thursday. A trial date has been set for July 22.

Federal authorities allege that Judge Dugan helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant, leave her courtroom through a private exit to avoid being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents waiting in the hallway. Flores-Ruiz was in court for an unrelated legal matter.

According to an FBI affidavit, Dugan reportedly referred to the agents’ presence as “absurd” and questioned whether they had a valid warrant. The affidavit says she personally assisted Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer in exiting the courtroom via a restricted back hallway.

The case has ignited protests and renewed debate over the boundaries of judicial discretion and federal immigration enforcement. Outside the courthouse, a crowd of demonstrators gathered with signs reading “Only fascists arrest judges — drop the charges” and “Keep your hands off our judges”. Protesters chanted phrases like “due process rights” and denounced what they called an abuse of federal authority.

Immigration rights advocates argue that arrests at courthouses discourage undocumented individuals from seeking legal recourse or cooperating with law enforcement—especially in sensitive cases such as domestic violence or wage theft.

“This is about more than one judge,” said a protester outside the courthouse. “It’s about protecting the integrity of our justice system from political overreach.”

The case underscores the ongoing tension between local jurisdictions and the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration policies. President Donald Trump has repeatedly vowed to hold local officials accountable if they refuse to assist in federal immigration enforcement efforts.

In a broader legal battle, several Democrat-led states have filed lawsuits accusing the administration of threatening to withhold federal funding from non-cooperative jurisdictions—an act they claim violates the constitutional separation of powers by circumventing Congress’s authority over federal spending.

Judge Dugan left the courtroom on Thursday without making a public statement. Her legal team has not commented beyond the plea.

The trial, set to begin in late July, is expected to draw national scrutiny as it tests the balance between judicial independence and federal immigration enforcement power.