MADISON, Wis. — Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a 31-year-old immigrant arrested in a controversial immigration case, has received a sentence of time served for illegally reentering the United States. The verdict follows his arrest in April, which ignited a scandal centering on Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of aiding his escape from federal agents.
Early on Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Pamela Pepper handed down the sentence in Milwaukee, as part of a plea deal where Flores-Ruiz agreed not to contest his deportation. He spent nearly seven months behind bars, prompting strong warnings from Judge Pepper about potential further penalties should he return to the U.S.
“I hope you can find a way to make a living back home,” Judge Pepper stated. Flores-Ruiz cautiously responded through a translator, expressing his gratitude for the time he worked in the U.S. and pledging never to return.
Flores-Ruiz hails from Michoacan, Mexico, having moved to the U.S. at age 18 in hopes of better opportunities. His first attempt in 2013 resulted in an immediate deportation following a brief apprehension. After reportedly getting lost for a month in the Arizona desert, he successfully made his way to Milwaukee, where he spent the following years working in restaurants and food trucks.
However, his turbulent journey led him to face serious legal challenges after a fight with his roommate, resulting in misdemeanor battery charges which, coupled with his immigration status, brought him under the radar of federal authorities.
In a complex turn of events, Judge Dugan is currently facing an indictment on charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest, set to stand trial beginning December 15. Her actions have sparked significant controversy, heightening tensions between local jurisdictions and the Trump administration's immigration policies.
Following his arrest, Flores-Ruiz was charged with reentering the U.S. illegally just days after being detained in a courtroom linked to Judge Dugan's case, complicating an already intense legal and political atmosphere around immigration enforcement.
In September, Flores-Ruiz entered a guilty plea in exchange for the recommendation of a time-served sentence from federal prosecutors, amid the looming threat of a much lengthier prison term. Despite ongoing penalties from state prosecutors, he was eventually sentenced to time served on those counts as well.
Currently, Flores-Ruiz is held at the Dodge County Jail in Juneau, Wisconsin, awaiting deportation as his legal saga unfolds. His attorney, Martin Pruhs, emphasized the complexities surrounding Flores-Ruiz's situation while declining to elaborate further.
