Washington, DC– In a significant development tied to immigration enforcement, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday and charged her with obstruction-related federal offenses. She is accused of allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest inside her courtroom, CNN reported.
Judge Dugan is facing two federal charges for hindering and concealing the individual from arrest. She appeared in court and has since been released pending further proceedings.
The case marks an escalation of enforcement under the Trump administration, which has intensified scrutiny of local officials perceived to hinder federal immigration efforts.
FBI Director Kash Patel commented on the arrest, stating that Judge Dugan “intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse to evade arrest.” In a post on X, Patel praised the FBI agents for their swift action:
“Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week. We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest.”
“Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public. We will have more to share soon. Excellent work @FBIMilwaukee,” he added.
Details from Court Documents:
On April 18, federal agents in plainclothes arrived at Judge Dugan’s courtroom intending to arrest Eduardo Flores Ruiz, a Mexican national who had previously been deported in 2013. Immigration officials tracked him after he was arrested in a local domestic abuse case.
Court documents allege that upon learning of the agents’ presence, Judge Dugan became visibly angry, left the bench, and confronted the agents in a public hallway. She reportedly told them they lacked the proper warrant and directed them to speak to the chief judge.
Multiple witnesses, including her courtroom deputy and the Victim Witness Specialist, stated that Dugan allegedly advised Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to leave through a side jury door – an exit not accessible to the public. One witness described her actions:
“Wait, come with me,” Dugan allegedly said, stopping the pair from leaving through the courtroom’s main door.
Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer reportedly exited the courthouse before the agents could act. He later attempted to flee but was caught and taken into custody.
Reaction from Federal Officials:
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrest on X:
“I can confirm that our @FBI agents just arrested Hannah Dugan – a county judge in Milwaukee – for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by @ICEgov. No one is above the law.”
I can confirm that our @FBI agents just arrested Hannah Dugan – a county judge in Milwaukee – for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by @ICEgov.
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) April 25, 2025
No one is above the law.
Trump’s former border czar Tom Homan added:
“Nobody should be surprised by the arrest of two judges. I have said many times within the past few months that people can choose to support illegal immigration and not assist ICE in removing criminal illegal aliens from our communities, BUT DON’T CROSS THAT LINE. If you actively impede our enforcement efforts or if you knowingly harbour or conceal illegal aliens from ICE, you will be prosecuted. These actions are felonies. More to come.”
Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week.
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 25, 2025
We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be…
Local and Political Reaction:
Critics have raised concerns about the arrest’s broader implications for the judiciary and due process.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers said:
“The Trump administration has used ‘dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level,'” and emphasized that “the fundamental demand of justice in America is that defendants are innocent until proven guilty.”
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson warned that arrests like this could deter people from attending court, potentially “undermining public safety”.
Democratic Representative Gwen Moore called the arrest “shocking” and said it bore “all the hallmarks of overreach.”
“Federal law enforcement coming into a community and arresting a judge is serious and would require a high legal bar,” she said, adding she was “very alarmed” by the “increasingly lawless actions of the Trump Administration,” especially ICE, which she accused of ignoring constitutional boundaries.