The FBI made headlines on Friday with the arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan. The judge is accused of assisting a man in evading immigration authorities, further intensifying the ongoing conflict between the Trump administration and the judiciary over immigration enforcement policies. FBI Director Kash Patel revealed the arrest via social media, stating that Judge Dugan “intentionally misdirected” federal agents who were attempting to apprehend a suspect at her courthouse last week.
According to Patel, the obstruction caused by Dugan posed an increased risk to public safety. Thankfully, federal agents managed to pursue the suspect on foot and have him in custody since the incident. Dugan was arrested on the courthouse grounds on Friday morning, as confirmed by U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson Brady McCarron. Following her arrest, she appeared briefly in federal court in Milwaukee before being released, with her next court date set for May 15.
Judge Dugan faces serious charges, including “concealing an individual to prevent his discovery and arrest” and obstructing or impeding a proceeding. Reports indicate that she allegedly escorted the individual, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, and his attorney out of the courtroom through a jury door on April 18 to avoid his arrest. An FBI affidavit filed in court suggests Dugan was informed of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents' presence in the courthouse by her clerk, prompting her to react with visible anger.
The affidavit details Dugan's confrontational behavior toward the immigration agents, describing her as “visibly angry” and calling the situation “absurd.” In a series of exchanges, she questioned the legitimacy of the agents' administrative warrant and insisted they speak with the chief judge. Dugan's unusual actions, such as guiding Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer through a non-public area of the courthouse, raised eyebrows, as the jury door is typically reserved for deputies, jurors, court staff, and in-custody defendants.
The arrest has sparked significant political debate, reflecting the growing tension between the Trump administration and the judiciary. Officials from the administration have criticized judges they label as “activist,” alleging they overstep their authority and impede the president's executive powers. Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin described the arrest of a sitting judge as a “gravely serious and drastic move” that undermines the separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches.
Baldwin emphasized that the United States is a democracy governed by laws, stating, “Make no mistake, we do not have kings in this country.” She condemned the administration's continued attacks on the judicial system, asserting that these actions threaten fundamental democratic values.
This incident mirrors a previous case during the first Trump administration involving a Massachusetts judge accused of aiding a man in evading immigration enforcement. The backlash against that prosecution raised concerns within the legal community about political motivations. Ultimately, charges against Newton District Judge Shelley Joseph were dropped under the Biden administration after she agreed to refer herself to a state agency for misconduct investigations.
The Justice Department has indicated a commitment to pursuing legal actions against state and local officials who obstruct federal immigration enforcement. In January, a memo was issued to encourage investigations into potential criminal charges, highlighting conspiracy offenses and laws against harboring undocumented individuals. Attorney General Pam Bondi reiterated this stance, stating, “No one is above the law.”
Judge Hannah Dugan was elected to the Milwaukee County court in 2016 and has served in various capacities, including probate and civil divisions. Prior to her judicial career, she practiced law at Legal Action of Wisconsin and the Legal Aid Society. Dugan holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating in 1981, and earned her Juris Doctorate in 1987 from the same institution.
This unfolding situation underscores the contentious landscape of immigration enforcement and judicial independence in the United States, raising questions about the future of both the judicial system and immigration policy under the current administration.
