Two judges—one in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and another in New Mexico—have been arrested for aiding dangerous illegal aliens, including a suspected member of the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, in a fiery statement, made it clear that the Trump administration will not tolerate such flagrant disregard for the rule of law, no matter who the offender may be.
“No one is above the law,” Bondi declared in a blistering video statement released on Friday, as she outlined the shocking details of these two cases.
“The Trump administration will fight for victims. The rule of law is very simple. It doesn’t matter what line of work you’re in. If you break the law, we will follow the facts and we will prosecute you,” Bondi concluded.
WATCH:
It doesn’t matter what line of work you are in, if you break the law we will follow the facts and prosecute you.
Under President Trump’s leadership, this administration will always fight for victims. pic.twitter.com/1dLermRk95
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) April 25, 2025
Judge Hannah Dugan: Aiding a Violent Illegal Alien in Milwaukee
Judge Hannah Dugan faces federal charges of “obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a department or agency of the United States, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1505; and concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1071” for her role in helping a violent illegal alien from Mexico evade arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to an affidavit from FBI Special Agent Lindsay Schloemer, ICE agents, along with FBI and DEA task force officers, had arrived at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 18, 2025, armed with an arrest warrant for Flores-Ruiz. Flores-Ruiz, a previously deported criminal alien, had illegally reentered the United States and was wanted for removal.
According to Pam Bondi, the criminal, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, was in court facing charges of domestic violence after brutally assaulting two victims.
Flores-Ruiz punched a man in the face 30 times, strangled him, and then turned his rage on a woman by punching her in the face with his closed fist.
Federal agents coordinated with courthouse deputies and sat patiently outside Courtroom 615, prepared to execute the arrest after Flores-Ruiz’s hearing, following standard safety protocols for public spaces.
When Dugan learned ICE agents were stationed outside to apprehend Flores-Ruiz, in a shocking abuse of power, she stormed off the bench, angrily confronted federal agents in the hallway, and aggressively demanded they leave, falsely claiming they needed a “judicial warrant” (despite immigration arrests lawfully proceeding with administrative warrants in public spaces.
After escorting agents toward the Chief Judge’s office to stall them, Dugan returned to her courtroom and, according to multiple witnesses, escorted Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer out through a non-public “jury door”—a route never used for free individuals—deliberately bypassing the ICE agents.
Meanwhile, the brave victims of Flores-Ruiz’s violence were left abandoned, waiting in the courtroom for justice that never came.
Flores-Ruiz later bolted from the courthouse and led federal agents on a foot chase through the streets of Milwaukee before he was apprehended near West State and 10th Streets.
In his sworn affidavit, Special Agent Schloemer made clear: “Based on the above information, I have probable cause to believe that Judge Dugan violated federal law.” The criminal complaint was formally signed by U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Dries.
Judge Joel Kano: Harboring a Gang Member and Destroying Evidence
Former New Mexico Magistrate Judge Joel Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, were arrested on April 24, 2025, for allegedly harboring Cristhian Ortega-Lopez, a suspected member of the notorious Venezuelan Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang.
The Gateway Pundit broke the story, revealing Cano’s shocking actions, which included destroying evidence and providing the gang member with assault rifles.
According to Bondi, federal agents raided Cano’s residence and uncovered a trove of incriminating evidence.
Ortega-Lopez’s cellphone and social media accounts contained photos of gang tattoos, insignia, and a chilling image of him posing with Cano.
Most horrifying were pictures of two decapitated victims, their hands severed and bodies mutilated—evidence of the gang’s barbaric violence.
Ortega-Lopez had also mocked a $5,000 reward offered for TdA members, flaunting his impunity.
Bondi revealed that Cano admitted, post-Miranda, to smashing Ortega-Lopez’s cellphone with a hammer and disposing of it in a city dumpster to destroy evidence.
Even more alarming, Cano and his wife allegedly provided Ortega-Lopez with assault rifles, including one equipped with a suppressor, which he used at a shooting range with other TdA members.
On Thursday, the FBI arrested former New Mexico Magistrate Judge Juan Cano and his wife, Nancy Cano, for harboring an illegal alien with suspected ties to Tren de Aragua.