A Wisconsin judge has resigned after being convicted of obstructing the arrest of a migrant in her courtroom. The resignation follows growing political pressure and threats of impeachment from Republican lawmakers in the state.
Hannah Dugan, a judge at the Milwaukee County Circuit Court, submitted her resignation on Saturday, according to media reports. She was convicted last month for helping a migrant avoid arrest by US immigration authorities while appearing before her in court.
Prosecutors said Dugan tried to help a Mexican migrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers. Flores-Ruiz was in court on domestic violence charges when immigration officials were reportedly waiting to arrest him.
Dugan pleaded not guilty to the charge. Her legal team argued that she was following an internal courthouse policy that required staff to notify a supervisor if ICE officers were present. Despite this defence, she was convicted and later suspended from judicial duties by Wisconsin’s highest court.
Following the conviction, Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin’s state legislature threatened to impeach Dugan. The case became part of a wider national debate over immigration enforcement and the role of local officials.
The US Justice Department described the case as a sign that prosecutors are willing to pursue charges against powerful officials who interfere with immigration enforcement. The Trump administration has recently expanded immigration operations, including arrests at courthouses, as part of its plan to deport millions of undocumented migrants.
Before becoming a judge in 2016, Dugan worked as the head of a local Catholic Charities office, where she was involved in refugee resettlement and migrant support services. Her resignation brings an end to her judicial career amid rising tensions over immigration policy in the United States.
Why did the judge resign?
She resigned after being convicted of obstructing a migrant’s arrest and facing possible impeachment from state lawmakers.