Franklin, WI – Forward Latino, a national non-profit, non-partisan, service and advocacy organization headquartered in Franklin, Wisconsin and with affiliates and members in 29 states issued the following statement to correct the false statements made under oath and repeated in United States v Dugan:
Forward Latino is committed to defending the United States Constitution and supporting those defending it. Embedded within our nation’s Constitution are fundamental rights afforded every individual present in the United States. These rights exist not only to ensure equal access to justice and protection under the law, but to guarantee that laws are applied and enforced fairly and consistently.
Last night, we learned of the split decision in the U.S. government’s case against Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan. Throughout the trial, and in subsequent reporting, the government advanced a number of assertions that are incorrect. Forward Latino is therefore compelled to correct these statements.
The Origin of Chaos & Detentions in Courthouses ARE NOT Normal
During the proceedings, the government claimed that Judge Dugan created chaos during the normal course of business at the Milwaukee County Courthouse and suggested that immigration detentions at courthouses are routine, everyday occurrences. While criminal arrests do indeed take place daily, civil arrests for immigration violations at courthouses are exceedingly rare. For the record, in and of itself, being undocumented in the United States is not a crime, but a civil violation. Prior to the Trump administration, such enforcement actions were strongly discouraged by Presidential administrations of both parties because such enforcement actions were known to limit access to justice, erode trust in the legal system and harm public safety.
Within 24 hours of the Trump administration taking office, longstanding protections for “sensitive sites” such as courthouses, schools, houses of worship, and hospitals were rescinded. As a result, jurisdictions across the country, including Milwaukee County, were forced to grapple with how to respond to these extraordinary and unprecedented actions by the executive branch, often without clear guidance. In addition, we have heard from government officials leading the administration’s immigration enforcement efforts, individuals at the highest levels openly state they are not compelled to follow court orders (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5198604-border-czar-trump-deportation/). In at one instance, an administration official has admitted she ordered her subordinates to defy a court order regarding plane transporting individuals out of the country (https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5627038-noem-confirms-el-salvador-deportation-flights-order/). This combined with authorizing enforcement agents to wear masks that conceal their faces, and refuse to show identification when requested, have served as catalysts of not just chaos, but fear in the both the non-immigrant and immigrant community alike.
ICE Assertions that only Individuals Who Meet Requirements are Deported Are Incorrect
It was stated in court by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and echoed by prosecutors during the trial that every individual detained by ICE undergoes a rigorous and methodical process to ensure that only those who meet the criteria for removal from the United States are deported. This is false as it is well documented that individuals lawfully present in the United States, including U.S. Citizens have been and continue to be deported from the United States.
Yes, Jurisdictions Can Create Policies that are Lawful & Prevent Immigration Detentions in Courthouses using Administrative Warrants.
At various points during the trial it was stated that no policy could prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from detaining individuals in courthouses without a Judicial Warrant. The authority does in fact exist and has been upheld repeatedly when challenged. Courts across the country have ruled that ICE lacks authority to carry out civil arrests in courthouses and jurisdictions have the authority to prohibit such enforcement actions.
United States v. New York, No. 1:25-CV-744 (MAD/PJE) (N.D.N.Y. Nov. 17, 2025). Case can be found here.; Velazquez-Hernandez v. U.S. Immigr. & Customs Enf’t, 500 F. Supp. 3d 1132 (S.D. Cal. 2020).
Indeed, in the first Trump administration, many of the challenges to this practice were successfully led by state attorneys general.
N.Y. v. U.S. Immigr. & Customs Enf’t, 431 F. Supp. 3d 377 (S.D.N.Y. 2019); Washington v.
U.S. Dep’t of Homeland Sec., 614 F. Supp. 3d 863 (W.D. Wash. 2020).
Forward Latino firmly believes that no one is above the law. The misuse of power or resources to shield oneself from accountability whether for personal financial gain, defiance of court orders, or actions that undermine democratic institutions, is unacceptable.
As attorneys for Judge Hannah Dugan continue their pursuit of justice, we must also demand accountability from those entrusted with defending our democracy and our freedoms, especially when they instead threaten the very rights that guarantee those freedoms.
Forward Latino is committed to defend the God given gift of human dignity of every human being, to supporting our men and women in law enforcement and in the U.S. Military and defending and strengthening our democracy.
God bless Wisconsin, and God bless the United States of America.
