Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge Hannah Dugan is facing two felony charges on allegations in trying to help an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest by ICE agents after he appeared in her courtroom.
At the center of the case is Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an immigrant from Mexico, who appeared in Dugan’s courtroom for a pretrial hearing. Flores-Ruiz is charged with three counts of of battery and domestic abuse.
Flores-Ruiz’s arrest was prompted by a violation of the Immigration and Nationality Act and unlawful re-entry into the United States, according to a federal complaint.
Here’s what to know about Flores-Ruiz’s background and ongoing case.
Where is Eduardo Flores-Ruiz from?
Flores-Ruiz was born in Mexico and is a Mexican citizen.
Why was Flores-Ruiz in court on April 18?
Flores-Ruiz is charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery, domestic violence and infliction of physical harm, a criminal complaint detailed.
His charges stemmed from a March 12 fight that occurred between Flores-Ruiz and two roommates after he was accused of playing music too loudly in the home.
The complaint says Flores-Ruiz punched one roommate 30 times, then hit a woman who tried to end the fight.
In court, Flores-Ruiz plead not guilty to charges, according to records from the Milwaukee County Court system.
Why was Flores-Ruiz arrested by ICE agents in Milwaukee?
Flores-Ruiz lived in the United States and was issued a notice and order of expedited removal by United States Border Patrol Agents on January 16, 2013. He was arrested and deported to Mexico through the Nogales, Arizona, Port of Entry shortly after.
The Department of Homeland Security stated that Flores-Ruiz never sought or obtained permission to return to theUnited States.
On March 28, 2025, the Milwaukee Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) Office was informed that Flores-Ruiz, who was charged in a Milwaukee court case and facing three misdemeanor battery counts.
They planned to arrest Flores-Ruiz following a pretrial hearing scheduled for April 18, 2025.
How did ICE agents identify Flores-Ruiz?
Flores-Ruiz’s fingerprints and photographs were taken by the Milwaukee County Jail and electronically submitted to federal databases.
The Milwaukee ICE ERO Office found that Flores-Ruiz fingerprints matched with the fingerprints taken of a Milwaukee County battery and domestic abuse case and proceeded to develop an arrest plan.
What happened on the day of Flores-Ruiz’s arrest?
On April 18, 2025, an ICE ERO task force planned to arrest Flores-Ruiz at the Milwaukee County Courthouse following his scheduled criminal court appearance.
Six agents arrived at the courthouse on the morning of April 18 and positioned themselves outside of Dugan’s court room, according to a complaint.
Though Dugan instructed several officers who were members of the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and Drug Enforcement Administration were instructed to consult the Chief Judge before facilitating the arrest, one officer witnessed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney exiting the courtroom from a non-public hallway and followed them into an elevator.
According to the federal complaint, the officer followed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney outside and contacted the other officials for backup to facilitate the arrest. A brief on-foot chase ensued shortly after and Flores-Ruiz was detained by ICE officers.
Tamia Fowlkes is a Public Investigator reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She can be reached at [email protected].
