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FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

apnews.com

291–300 of 1001 posts

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#291
The AP article [1] has the full complaint linked, the crux of the case seems to be around the judge allowing the defendant to leave through a back entrance ("jury door") when they were aware agents were waiting in the public hallway to make an arrest as they exited.

" 29. Multiple witnesses have described their observations after Judge DUGAN returned to her courtroom after directing members of the arrest team to the Chief Judge’s office. For example, the courtroom deputy recalled that upon the courtroom deputy’s return to the courtroom,defense counsel for Flores-Ruiz was talking to the clerk, and Flores-Ruiz was seated in the jury box, rather than in the gallery. The courtroom deputy believed that counsel and the clerk were having an off-the-record conversation to pick the next court date. Defense counsel and Flores-Ruizthen walked toward each other and toward the public courtroom exit. The courtroom deputy then saw Judge DUGAN get up and heard Judge DUGAN say something like “Wait, come with me.” Despite having been advised of the administrative warrant for the arrest of Flores-Ruiz, Judge DUGAN then escorted Flores-Ruiz and his counsel out of the courtroom through the “jury door,” which leads to a nonpublic area of the courthouse. These events were also unusual for two reasons.First, the courtroom deputy had previously heard Judge DUGAN direct people not to sit in the jury box because it was exclusively for the jury’s use. Second, according to the courtroom deputy, only deputies, juries, court staff, and in-custody defendants being escorted by deputies used the back jury door. Defense attorneys and defendants who were not in custody never used the jury door."

[1]: https://apnews.com/article/immigration-judge-arrested-799718...

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#292

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Under any occasion, it was inappropriate to arrest a judge like this. We’re honestly at the point where I’d be comfortable with armed militias defending state and local institutions from federal police. If only to force someone to think twice about something like this. (To be clear, I’m not happy we’re here. But we are.)

why do you think the people willing to be a part of the armed militias you mention are NOT on the same way of thinking as what ICE is attempting to do. that's just how the militia types tend to lean, so I don't think this would have the effect you're looking for

> that's just how the militia types tend to lean

So far. I don’t think you’d have trouble recruiting an educated, well-regulated militia from folks who believe in the rule of law.

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#293
post #190

Milwaukee journal is providing great coverage: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/breaking/2025/04/25/milw...

A good reminder that we need to support local, professional journalism. Otherwise the only information we would be getting right now is official statements or hearsay.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel now is just a reskin of USA Today[1]. They're not locally owned or controlled.

[1] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/pr/2016/04/11/gannett-co...

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#294
post #190

Milwaukee journal is providing great coverage: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/breaking/2025/04/25/milw...

A good reminder that we need to support local, professional journalism. Otherwise the only information we would be getting right now is official statements or hearsay.

[deleted]

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#295
post #10

> The New York Times observes that Kash Patel has now deleted his tweet (for unknown reasons) and adds that the charging documents are still not available. https://bsky.app/profile/sethabramson.bsky.social/post/3lnnj...

Kash Patel tweeting in real-time indicates that he aware of it and at some-level involved with the arrest. It also shows that he sees this as a totally reasonable action and response - and wants the public to know about it.

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#296

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or they walked into the hearing, sat in the back, and didn't interrupt it. These proceedings are almost always public, and theoretically you or I could walk in and sit quietly without violating any rules. Without knowing more, they could have just been waiting patiently for the hearing to end, and they would have arrested him outside the courtroom after he had left. In that case, what the judge did does amount to wil…

> they could have just been waiting patiently for the hearing to end, and they would have arrested him outside the courtroom after he had left Still doesn’t justify arresting a judge in a court house. This is incredibly close to where taking up arms to secure the republic starts to make sense.

[flagged]

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#297
post #168

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not saying it's good, for sure. But I don't think it's a sign that the push for autocratic authoritarianism is winning , either. My optimistic take is that this is the sort of stupid overreach that works to turn other arms of government against the executive. The judiciary tends to be prickly about its prerogatives, and Trump's far from the point where he can just push stuff through without some cover.

> My optimistic take is that this is the sort of stupid overreach that works to turn other arms of government against the executive This is your take given the blatant corruption and clear constitutional violations of this administration? Sure, let's hope that norms and vibes save us against an executive ignoring due process. Those other branches don't even have a way to enforce anything; the executive are the ones w…

The power of the executive is constrained, ultimately, by what people let them do. Including people inside the executive branch -- the people who're doing the arresting, transporting the prisoners, gunning down the protesters, etc. There's a lot of people involved who aren't committed to some authoritarian project, they're just... doing their job. They can be swayed by vibes, and general unpopularity of the regime.

The alternative to this view is either giving up or preparing for armed struggle. It's certainly possible that we could get there, but I don't think it's guaranteed yet.

(I acknowledge that this position is quite the blend of optimism and cynicism.)

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#298
post #16

> He accused Dugan of “intentionally misdirecting” federal agents who arrived at the courthouse to detain an immigrant who was set to appear before her in an unrelated proceeding. It sounds like the arrest isn't because of any official act of the judge, but rather over them either not telling the ICE agents where the person was or giving them the wrong information about their location. There are some pretty broad law…

IANAL but... The agents had no official role in the proceedings, and if they did not request one, then they have the status of courtroom observers (little difference from courtroom back row voyeurs) and they can go jump in a lake.

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#299
post #243

I'm not very familiar with US laws, but why wouldn't the FBI agents likewise be arrested for interfering with the judge's court case? Let's say I murder someone. I definitely did it, and there's plenty of evidence. What's stopping my hypothetical ICE buddy from showing up at my first court appearance, arresting me, and deporting me to a country without extradition by claiming that I am an "illegal immigrant"?

FBI != ICE. It was ICE that showed up to the courtroom. The FBI was only involved in the arrest after ICE was butt hurt and complained to daddy about the situation. ICE does not have authority to arrest citizens. That is why the FBI was involved to be able to make the arrest of a citizen

Re: FBI arrests judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities

#300
post #16

> He accused Dugan of “intentionally misdirecting” federal agents who arrived at the courthouse to detain an immigrant who was set to appear before her in an unrelated proceeding. It sounds like the arrest isn't because of any official act of the judge, but rather over them either not telling the ICE agents where the person was or giving them the wrong information about their location. There are some pretty broad law…

the unusual thing here is that they're using them against a reasonably politically-connected person who's not their main target. This is a pissing match between authorities. ICE has their panties in a knot that the judge didn't "respect muh authoriah" and do more than the bare leglal minimum for them (which resulted in the guy getting away). On the plus side, one hopes judge will have a pretty good record going forwa…

She was convicted for lying, not for the trading.
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