Body cam footage shows Milwaukee judge denying she hid an immigrant
wanted by ICE
[August 23, 2025]
By TODD RICHMOND and SCOTT BAUER
MILWAUKEE (AP) — A Milwaukee judge charged with obstructing a federal
agency and concealing a wanted person who was in the country illegally
told police days after the incident in her courtroom that “I didn't do
anything that they're saying.”
The comments were captured on body camera footage by Milwaukee police
inside Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan's home three days
before her arrest in April. Dugan told officers she was not aware of a
criminal investigation into her conduct.
Dugan was indicted in May and faces charges of concealing an individual
to prevent arrest, a misdemeanor, and obstruction, which is a felony.
Prosecutors say she escorted Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, and his lawyer out
of her courtroom through a back door on April 18 after learning that
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had arrived to arrest
him for being in the country without permanent legal status.
Four days later, on April 22, Dugan called police to her house about a
flyer from an anti-government group that she, her mother and her sister
found at their homes. Police photographs of the flyer show it included a
religious screed about how to pronounce the name of God and assertions
that Wisconsin residents can legally carry concealed knives.
Her conversation with officers, as captured on their body cameras, was
released by police to The Associated Press on Friday. It was first
reported by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The footage shows Dugan telling police that media reports had been
swirling about how she supposedly “hid” Flores-Ruiz in her courtroom.
She goes on to that she didn't know the person in her courtroom that day
was in the country illegally and she denied giving him special
treatment.
“It’s all lies,” Dugan told officers. She later said, “I didn’t do
anything that they’re saying.”
Dugan has pleaded not guilty and is fighting to have the charges against
her thrown out. The charges against her underscore a clash between
Donald Trump’s administration and local authorities over the Republican
president’s sweeping immigration crackdown.
Democrats have accused the Trump administration of trying to make an
example of Dugan to chill judicial opposition.
Dugan has not publicly commented on the allegations.
She told police that she didn’t know Flores-Ruiz’s immigration status.
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Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan leaves the federal
courthouse after a hearing in Milwaukee on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
(AP Photo/Andy Manis, File)
“I don’t know if he’s an illegal immigrant, which is what they’re
claiming,” Dugan said. “I’m not supposed to know that. When they
come in front of me, I’m not supposed to know that.”
Dugan denied hiding Flores-Ruiz who federal agents came into her
courtroom to arrest.
“I did not hide this migrant in the jury room or in my chambers,”
she said. "I had him leave out the back door, which I do when the
circumstances warrant it.”
Video from the hallway showed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney leaving
through a side door about 12 feet (3.6 meters) from the main
entrance.
According to an FBI affidavit, witnesses heard Dugan say something
to the effect of “wait, come with me” before ushering Flores-Ruiz
and his attorney out through the door typically used only by
deputies, jurors, court staff and in-custody defendants, the
affidavit alleges.
In her motion to dismiss, Dugan argued that her conduct amounted to
directing people’s movement in and around her courtroom, and that
she enjoys legal immunity for official acts she performs as a judge.
Dugan told Milwaukee police that she directed federal agents "down
the hall to the administrative offices. What happened after that is
their business.”
Agents arrested Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse after a brief
foot chase.
“We live in very difficult times,” Dugan told the officers. “We all
know that. Very difficult.”
Dugan's defense attorneys released a statement noting that her
comments to police came before she was aware of the criminal
investigation.
“Her comments reinforced that she did nothing wrong in this matter
and treated the misdemeanor case like any other in her courtroom,”
her attorneys said in the statement.
Dugan could face up to six years in prison and a $350,000 fine if
convicted on both counts.
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