Immigrant who dodged ICE with Wisconsin judge’s help is deported

(WISCONSIN, UNITED STATES) The undocumented immigrant dodged ICE with alleged help from a Wisconsin judge has now been deported, ending one chapter of a case that has drawn national attention to tensions between local courts and federal immigration agents. Federal officials said Eduardo Flores‑Ruiz, a 31‑year‑old Mexican national, was removed from the United States on Thursday, November 14, 2025, about seven months after his arrest at a Milwaukee courthouse touched off a political and legal storm.

Federal removal and plea agreement

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Flores‑Ruiz was placed on a removal flight after he completed a federal sentence for illegally reentering the United States after a prior deportation. He had pleaded guilty in September 2025 and, as part of an agreement with prosecutors, accepted a sentence of time served and agreed not to fight deportation proceedings.

That plea cleared the way for immigration authorities to move quickly once his criminal case ended, and officials acted last week.

How the case began: Milwaukee courthouse incident

Flores‑Ruiz first drew attention in April 2025, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrived at the Milwaukee County courthouse to arrest him after a misdemeanor battery charge. Prosecutors say plainclothes agents waited in the hallway, prepared to take him into federal custody once his state court hearing ended.

What happened next led to a rare federal indictment against a sitting local judge and ignited a wider debate over whether courthouses should be, in the words of one local directive, “safe havens” from immigration enforcement.

• Federal prosecutors allege Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan learned that ICE officers were waiting outside her courtroom for Flores‑Ruiz.
• Instead of sending him through the public exit, they allege, she directed the defendant to leave through a private door, away from agents’ sight.
• Flores‑Ruiz then fled the building, sparking a foot chase in downtown Milwaukee before he was caught.

The incident quickly became a flashpoint. Critics accused the court of shielding an undocumented defendant, while supporters argued the judge was protecting the integrity of state court proceedings.

Indictment and potential penalties

In May 2025, a federal grand jury indicted Judge Dugan on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. Each count carries potential prison time; together they could bring a sentence of up to six years if she is convicted.

• Dugan has pleaded not guilty and remains on the bench while her case moves forward.
• Her federal trial is scheduled to begin on December 15, 2025.
• Prosecutors are expected to call courthouse staff and ICE agents to testify about the day Flores‑Ruiz slipped out a side door.

Defense, policy context, and prosecutorial argument

Dugan has denied wrongdoing and points to guidance from the Milwaukee County Chief Judge, who urged local courts to remain “safe havens” from immigration enforcement activity. Supporters say that phrase was meant to reassure crime victims and witnesses that they could seek help without fear of being detained by immigration officers in public hallways.

Prosecutors counter that the policy never allowed a judge to help someone escape an arrest that was already underway. They argue Flores‑Ruiz’s case crossed a clear legal line.

“When an immigrant dodged ICE with active help from a public official, it risks undermining the rule of law,” prosecutors say, asserting that court orders cannot be sidestepped.

Custody timeline and deportation

While he waited for his federal case to end, Flores‑Ruiz remained in custody for roughly seven months. Court records show he eventually chose not to contest his removal from the country, a decision that cleared the final procedural hurdles once his time served sentence was imposed on November 6, 2025.

• He was quickly transferred to immigration custody.
• Eight days later, on November 14, 2025, he was placed on a deportation flight.
• His lawyers have not commented publicly on his departure.

Background: Flores‑Ruiz’s immigration history

Flores‑Ruiz’s immigration history stretches back more than a decade. Officials say he first entered the United States without permission in 2013, was deported, and came back just days later. He then spent about 12 years living and working in Milwaukee before his most recent arrest.

• Supporters of stricter immigration enforcement point to that record as evidence that current systems don’t deter repeat violations.
• Immigrant advocates say his long residence shows how deeply many undocumented people are rooted in local communities before they are suddenly removed.

Broader implications and national debate

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the case has become a touchstone in arguments over how far local officials may go to keep federal immigration agents at arm’s length.

• Some local leaders around the country have vowed that courthouses will not become hunting grounds for deportation squads, arguing people must feel safe reporting crimes.
• Federal authorities contend that courthouses are among the few public places where agents can reliably find people with open cases or prior removal orders.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement, a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, posts official policy details on its website: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The agency explains its authority to arrest noncitizens in public spaces, a stance that has collided with local efforts to limit arrests near state courtrooms—especially in cases involving domestic violence or other sensitive crimes.

What’s next for the judge’s case

For now, Flores‑Ruiz is back in Mexico, while the judge at the center of the controversy prepares to face a jury. His removal does not change the charges against Dugan, but it may affect how the story is told in court, since the man she is accused of helping is no longer in the country.

Legal analysts say prosecutors are likely to rely heavily on:

1. Surveillance footage
2. Testimony from court staff and ICE agents
3. Records of communications between local and federal officials

rather than on direct testimony from the now‑deported defendant.

Closing context

As the December 15, 2025 trial date approaches, both supporters and critics of the Wisconsin judge are watching closely.

• For immigrant families in Milwaukee, the case blends worries about being deported with questions about whom the courts protect.
• For federal authorities, it signals they will bring charges even when a local public official—not an undocumented person—stands in the way.

The coming trial will test where the legal lines are drawn between protecting community trust in courts and enforcing federal immigration laws.