A leftist judge in Sawyer County, Wisconsin, is causing major controversy after threatening a courtroom boycott over the arrest of a fellow judge who allegedly helped an illegal alien avoid federal authorities.
Judge Monica Isham sent out a fiery email to her colleagues on Saturday, according to Fox News, making it crystal clear that she is ready to take drastic action if she doesn’t receive what she calls “support” and “guidance.”
In her email, Judge Isham wrote:
“If there is no guidance for us and no support for us, I will refuse to hold court in Branch 2 in Sawyer County. I will not put myself or my staff who may feel compelled to help me or my community in harm’s way.”
Her comments quickly drew attention — not only because of the courtroom boycott threat, but also because she openly stated her unwillingness to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents when it comes to enforcing immigration laws.
In a shocking and revealing statement, Isham declared:
“I have no intention of allowing anyone to be taken out of my courtroom by ICE and sent to a concentration camp, especially without due process, as BOTH of the constitutions we swore to support require.”
The comparison of ICE detention facilities to “concentration camps” is not only inflammatory but completely detached from the reality of federal immigration enforcement, as critics were quick to point out.
The outrage didn’t stop there. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-WI) took to social media on Saturday to blast Judge Isham’s remarks. Sharing screenshots of her email, Tiffany called for her resignation:
“Monica Isham is choosing to protect illegal aliens over the law. She should resign or be removed,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The broader conservative base in Wisconsin and beyond quickly rallied behind Tiffany’s call, highlighting the growing frustration over local officials putting political ideology ahead of the rule of law.
This controversy exploded after Judge Hannah Dugan — another left-leaning figure — was arrested on Friday for allegedly helping a previously deported illegal alien escape ICE officers.
According to Breitbart News, Judge Dugan was accused of “guiding” the illegal alien out of her courtroom following an assault hearing — even though federal agents were reportedly waiting to take him into custody.
The illegal alien in question, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz from Mexico, has a serious history of violent criminal charges. Yet instead of aiding law enforcement, Dugan allegedly chose to shield him from deportation efforts.
Dugan’s background paints a clearer picture of where her sympathies may lie. As Fox News pointed out, she has a long history of working with legal aid organizations and once served as executive director of Catholic Charities, a group that has increasingly taken political stances in favor of open borders.
Elected to Branch 31 of the Circuit Court in 2016, Dugan ran unopposed in 2022, handling primarily misdemeanor cases according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The role of Catholic Charities in these developments is also worth noting. Earlier this year, Breitbart News reported that Catholic Charities of Milwaukee was actively encouraging illegal aliens to defy lawful orders from ICE.
To be clear, as ICE itself states:
“ICE has the general authority to detain aliens who are subject to removal or removal proceedings.”
Despite this, certain organizations have continued to undermine federal efforts to secure the country’s borders and enforce immigration law — and now, it appears some judges are following suit.
The troubling saga unfolding in Sawyer County is just one example of a broader national issue: activist judges and officials choosing political agendas over the law, often at the expense of American citizens’ safety.
At a time when violent crime and illegal immigration are skyrocketing, Americans deserve public servants who uphold the law, not ones who treat it like a suggestion.
As this story develops, it’s clear many in Wisconsin — and across the country — are waking up to just how much damage can be done when ideology overtakes justice.
