MADISON, Wis. – A notable case involving immigration and judicial conduct reached a critical juncture with the deportation of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31. Flores-Ruiz was arrested after Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan allegedly facilitated his evasion from U.S. immigration authorities. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed his deportation in a tweet but did not specify his destination.
Flores-Ruiz pleaded guilty in September to illegally reentering the United States as part of a plea deal. He had originally crossed the border from Mexico into the U.S. in 2013, where he worked for over a decade before getting charged with misdemeanor battery this year.
His case has broader implications, as Judge Hannah Dugan is facing charges herself, accused of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. In a dramatic incident, Dugan reportedly led Flores-Ruiz out of her courtroom right before U.S. immigration agents intended to capture him.
Dugan's attorneys maintain that she acted within her rights and emphasized that courts should be “safe havens” from immigration enforcement, a standpoint made evident in a directive from the Milwaukee County Chief Judge just weeks prior to the incident.
While Flores-Ruiz's deportation comes as a resolution to his legal troubles, it simultaneously ignites ongoing debates surrounding judicial intervention in immigration matters and the subsequent legal ramifications for those involved.
In a statement, the Department of Homeland Security delivered a strong reaction to Dugan’s actions, marking the case as an extreme example of judicial activism. Dugan's trial is set to begin on December 15, where she could face significant prison time if convicted.
