Controversial Deportation Case: Wisconsin Judge Accused of Aiding Mexican Migrant's Escape
A Mexican migrant who was allegedly helped by a Wisconsin judge to avoid arrest by immigration authorities has been deported, according to officials. Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, with a history of criminal charges, was sent back to Mexico on Thursday by the Department of Homeland Security. Tricia McLaughlin, Assistant Secretary of DHS, criticized Judge Hannah Dugan for obstructing Flores-Ruiz's arrest, calling her actions a new level of activism.
Flores-Ruiz, a previously deported illegal alien, faced charges including strangulation, battery, and domestic abuse. DHS emphasized that law enforcement officers will track down and remove individuals who are in the country illegally and commit crimes. Flores-Ruiz made headlines in April when he was arrested after a court hearing before Judge Dugan, who allegedly helped him evade ICE agents by hiding him in a jury room.
Dugan was accused of assisting Flores-Ruiz in escaping through a back door inaccessible to the public to avoid ICE authorities. She also reportedly informed court officers that a warrant was required for the arrest. The victims of Flores-Ruiz's alleged crimes were present in the courtroom during the incident. Dugan was arrested and charged with obstruction, to which she pleaded not guilty.
In May, Dugan filed a motion to dismiss the charges, claiming immunity as a judge acting in an official capacity. She argued that the federal government violated Wisconsin's sovereignty by interfering in a state courtroom and prosecuting a state judge. Flores-Ruiz illegally entered the U.S. in 2013 and was arrested by the Border Patrol. He was sentenced to time served for the immigration violation by U.S. District Judge Pamela Pepper, who advised him to find a way to make a living in Mexico instead of returning to the U.S.