A Judge's Stand: Helping an Undocumented Man Avoid ICE

A Wisconsin judge is about to face a federal trial. Her crime? Helping an undocumented man avoid arrest by immigration authorities. This is a big deal. It's not every day a judge is accused of something like this. The judge, Hannah Dugan, is from Milwaukee County. She's been charged with two serious counts. Prosecutors say she tried to block an immigration removal process. They also say she hid the man from immigration agents. This all went down in April at a courthouse. Dugan says she's not guilty. Her trial starts soon. Prosecutors plan to call 25 to 28 witnesses. If she's found guilty, she could spend up to six years in prison. Here's what happened. Federal agents were at the courthouse to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. He was there for a battery charge. After talking to the agents, Dugan sent them to the chief judge's office. Then, she allegedly helped Flores-Ruiz leave through a non-public door. Prosecutors say she did this to help him avoid arrest for immigration violations.Dugan's lawyers say her arrest is rare. They tried to get the case dismissed. They argued she has judicial immunity. They also said her prosecution is unconstitutional. But a judge denied their motion. He said immunity doesn't apply just because some actions might be part of a judge's job. After her arrest, the Wisconsin Supreme Court suspended Dugan. They said it was in the public's interest. Flores-Ruiz, who is from Mexico, was later arrested. He was charged with unlawful reentry into the U. S. This case raises big questions. Should a judge intervene in an immigration arrest? What are the limits of judicial immunity? And what does this mean for undocumented immigrants seeking justice?