On Friday’s broadcast of Fox News Channel’s “The Story,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Senior Adviser Ron Vitiello addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan and her handling of a case involving an illegal immigrant.
Vitiello pointed to Milwaukee County’s lack of cooperation with federal immigration authorities as a key factor that forced ICE agents to attempt the arrest at a courthouse rather than a jail.
The case centers on Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an illegal immigrant who was allegedly shielded by Judge Dugan during court proceedings.
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Vitiello stated that ICE agents would not have needed to make an arrest at the courthouse if they had been given access to the Milwaukee County Jail.
“Those law enforcement officers were there doing their job. They’re going to that courthouse, most likely because Milwaukee won’t let them in the jail,” Vitiello said.
“When the guy was arrested the first time for the battery that he committed, they could’ve arrested him in the jail after he got arrested the first time or when he made bail, he would’ve been turned over to ICE.”
Vitiello’s remarks were in response to comments from Senate Minority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), who criticized the situation surrounding Dugan’s arrest.
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Vitiello challenged Durbin’s position, accusing him of trying to play both sides of the law-and-order debate.
“But Dick Durbin, he wants to have it both ways. He says he’s for law and order, he says he’s for the people, but he’s not for the victims of illegal aliens who also commit crimes in the United States,” Vitiello said.
“He’s not for the rule of law, because that arrest would’ve been completely lawful, and it wouldn’t have interfered at all.”
Vitiello went on to argue that Judge Dugan could have allowed the legal proceedings to continue without interference.
“If she would have done her job and heard that case or whatever the hearing was, they would have taken that man into custody after the hearing, safely, without incident. She’s the one that screwed up here,” he added.
The controversy stems from allegations that Judge Dugan directed federal agents away from Flores-Ruiz, allowing him to avoid immediate detention by ICE.
Her actions have drawn significant criticism from immigration officials and supporters of immigration enforcement efforts, particularly as the nation’s debate over sanctuary policies and cooperation with federal authorities continues.
Dugan’s case highlights broader concerns over local jurisdictions that limit cooperation with ICE, often citing sanctuary policies.
Critics argue that these policies hinder federal law enforcement efforts and create additional risks to public safety by making arrests more complicated and less controlled.
The incident has become part of a larger national conversation about immigration enforcement, with many pointing to Flores-Ruiz’s case as an example of how local resistance to ICE can lead to more chaotic and potentially dangerous enforcement operations.
Officials have stressed that when local law enforcement cooperates with ICE, arrests can occur safely within controlled environments like jails, rather than requiring agents to make arrests in public spaces such as courthouses.
As scrutiny over Judge Dugan’s conduct grows, the Department of Justice has not yet announced additional charges, but federal authorities continue to investigate the incident.
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