In brief
Eduardo Flores-Ruiz has been deported after pleading guilty to illegally reentering the U.S. His case has drawn national attention due to accusations that Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan assisted him in evading law enforcement during a court appearance. Flores-Ruiz, who worked in restaurants for 12 years after first entering the U.S. from Mexico at age 18, faced charges after a dispute with his roommate led to his detention. Judge Dugan now faces a federal trial for obstruction.
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An immigrant who was arrested after a Milwaukee judge allegedly helped him dodge federal agents has been deported.
Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, 31, pleaded guilty in September to illegally reentering the United States after he reached a deal with prosecutors. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security tweeted Friday afternoon that he has now been deported.
The tweet did not mention whether he was sent back to Mexico or another country. The Associated Press reached out to his attorney, Martin Pruhs, for further comments, but he did not respond immediately.
Flores-Ruiz is at the center of a case that could end with Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan in prison.
According to court documents, Flores-Ruiz left his home in Mexico at age 18 in 2013 and sneaked into the United States. He was apprehended and deported immediately after crossing the border but reentered the country within days, eventually working in Milwaukee's restaurant industry for about 12 years.
He encountered legal trouble in March when he was charged with three counts of misdemeanor battery for fighting with his roommate. Immigration authorities became aware of his illegal status after his fingerprints were submitted to federal databases following his detention in Milwaukee County Jail.
He was scheduled to appear at a hearing before Judge Dugan on April 18. U.S. immigration agents intended to arrest him there, but according to prosecutors, Dugan learned of the agents' presence and led him out of her courtroom through a private exit, allowing him to escape. He was later apprehended after a foot chase.
A federal grand jury indicted Dugan in May on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. Dugan's trial is set for December 15, and she could face up to six years in prison if convicted.
“Judge Hannah Dugan’s actions to obstruct this violent criminal’s arrest take ‘activist judge’ to a whole new meaning,” said a spokesperson from the Department of Homeland Security.
Dugan has denied any wrongdoing, asserting her right to manage her courtroom how she sees fit. Her attorneys previously cited communications from the Milwaukee County Chief Judge indicating a belief that courts should remain “safe havens” from immigration enforcement.
Flores-Ruiz spent much of the past seven months in jail and had two of the battery charges dropped before agreeing to a plea deal on the remaining charge. He has been sentenced to time served on his illegal entry charge and has committed not to contest his deportation.
