Verdict Against Judge Dugan Threatens Due Process and Judicial Independence

(Milwaukee, December 19th, 2025)—The federal jury verdict finding Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing immigration agents sets a dangerous precedent for the judiciary and for the constitutional rights of all people.

This was not a neutral enforcement of the law. It was a political prosecution that criminalized the exercise of judicial independence and the defense of due process. The verdict signals that judges and court officials can be punished for questioning or limiting immigration enforcement, even when acting to preserve the integrity of the court and the rights of people before it.

This case is not about one judge. It is about the normalization of ICE operating in courthouses and the expansion of immigration enforcement into spaces meant to guarantee fairness, safety, and access to justice. By validating this prosecution, the verdict blurs the line between the courts and executive enforcement power, signaling that the law will be enforced aggressively against immigrants and those who dare to defend their rights, while the privileged and powerful continue to evade accountability.

Across the country, ICE has carried out warrantless arrests, forcibly separated families, racially profiled, and detained and deported people who are actively pursuing asylum or lawful status. This verdict risks further legitimizing those practices within our legal system.

When people fear arrest for showing up to court, the justice system fails. Families are driven into the shadows, trust collapses, and entire communities suffer. These are tools of authoritarian systems—using fear and punishment to suppress dissent and enforce political agendas.

Christine Neumann-Ortiz, Executive Director of Voces de la Frontera, said:

“This verdict tells judges, court staff, and our communities that defending due process comes with consequences. That is not justice, it is intimidation. We reject a system that uses prosecution and brute force to advance a far-right anti-immigrant agenda and criminalizes those who stand up against this assault on our human and constitutional rights. We stand in solidarity with Judge Hannah Dugan as her legal defense moves forward to clear her name, and we stand with the immigrant community in calling for ICE out of our courtrooms and growing our court accompaniment program.”

About Voces de la Frontera

Voces de la Frontera is a membership-based organization led by immigrants, youth, and low-wage workers. We fight for civil and workers’ rights, empower communities, and defend immigrant families from discrimination and abuse. For more information, visit vdlf.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.