Federal Charges Filed in High-Profile Arrest
In a significant escalation of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts, the FBI arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday morning, charging her with obstruction of an official proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. The arrest, announced by FBI Director Kash Patel, stems from an incident last week where Judge Dugan allegedly helped an undocumented immigrant evade Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers.
According to federal prosecutors, the case centers on Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national who had previously been deported in 2013 and illegally reentered the United States. Flores-Ruiz was appearing in Dugan's courtroom on April 18 for a domestic violence case when ICE agents arrived with an administrative warrant for his arrest and deportation.
Court documents allege that when Judge Dugan learned of the ICE officers' presence, she became "visibly angry" and called the situation "absurd." Witnesses told investigators that Dugan confronted the federal agents in a public hallway, repeatedly demanded they leave, and said they needed a judicial warrant rather than an administrative one to make the arrest inside the courthouse.
After directing the ICE officers to speak with the chief judge in another part of the building, Dugan allegedly escorted Flores-Ruiz and his defense attorney through a non-public "jury door," which federal prosecutors claim was an unusual departure from normal procedure. This private exit allowed Flores-Ruiz to temporarily avoid the waiting ICE agents.
"[Dugan] escorted Flores-Ruiz and his counsel out of the courtroom through the 'jury door,' which leads to a nonpublic area of the courthouse," the criminal complaint states, noting that typically "only deputies, juries, court staff, and in-custody defendants being escorted by deputies used the back jury door. Defense attorneys and defendants who were not in custody never used the jury door."
Despite the alleged intervention, ICE agents spotted Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse. According to the complaint, "a foot chase ensued" before the agents apprehended him approximately 22 minutes after his initial arrival at the courthouse.
"[Dugan] escorted Flores-Ruiz and his counsel out of the courtroom through the 'jury door,' which leads to a nonpublic area of the courthouse,"
Attorney General's Strong Warning to Judiciary
Following the arrest, Attorney General Pam Bondi appeared on Fox News Channel's "America Reports" and issued stark warnings to any judges who might consider similar actions.
"We are going to prosecute you and we are prosecuting you," Bondi declared, expressing disbelief at Judge Dugan's alleged actions. "I think some of these judges think they are beyond and above the law, and they are not, and we're sending a very strong message today."
Bondi emphasized that no one, including judges, is above the law and warned of serious consequences for those who aid undocumented immigrants in avoiding arrest. "If you are harboring a fugitive, we don't care who you are... If you are destroying evidence, if you are obstructing justice... it will not be tolerated," she stated.
The Attorney General specifically referenced Flores-Ruiz's domestic violence case, describing the incident as "truly horrific" and noting that the defendant had allegedly assaulted two people so severely they required hospitalization. Bondi highlighted that the victims had cooperated with prosecutors and were present in court when Judge Dugan allegedly helped the defendant evade ICE custody.
In a separate but related case, Bondi also mentioned the recent arrest of a former judge in New Mexico who allegedly harbored a Venezuelan national with reported gang ties. These cases form part of what appears to be a broader Justice Department strategy targeting judicial officers who impede immigration enforcement.
Divided Reactions
The arrest has sparked intense reactions from officials on both sides of the political spectrum. The Trump administration has presented the case as a necessary enforcement action against judicial obstruction.
Tom Homan, the administration's border czar responsible for implementing the deportation program, warned on social media: "If you actively impede our enforcement efforts or if you knowingly harbor or conceal illegal aliens from ICE you will be prosecuted. These actions are felonies. More to come."
Meanwhile, local officials in Milwaukee have expressed alarm at the federal intervention. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson accused federal agents of "showboating" and argued that Dugan was not a flight risk. "They're just trying to have this show of force and in the process of a courthouse where people need to go for court proceedings, they're scaring away people from participating in the court process," the mayor told reporters.
Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers issued a statement criticizing the Trump administration for what he characterized as efforts "to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level." The governor added that he would continue to have faith in the justice system "as this situation plays out in the court of law."
Democratic Representative Gwen Moore, whose district includes Milwaukee, described Dugan's arrest as "shocking" and said it has "all the hallmarks of overreach." She expressed concern about "this increasingly lawless actions of the Trump Administration, and in particular ICE, who have been defying courts and acting with disregard for local law enforcement."
Legal Context and Defense
Judge Dugan has retained former United States Attorney Steven Biskupic as her legal representation. In a statement, Biskupic said the judge "will defend herself vigorously and looks forward to being exonerated."
"Judge Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge," the statement continued. If convicted on the charges, Dugan could face up to six years in prison.
Dugan, who is in her ninth year as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge with a term that expires in 2028, has a background in civil law. Before her judicial appointment, she served as executive director of Catholic Charities of Southeastern Wisconsin and worked as an attorney at legal aid organizations providing free civil legal representation to disadvantaged clients.
The judge made an initial appearance in federal court on Friday and was released on her own recognizance. Her arraignment is scheduled for May 15.
Broader Implications
This case represents a significant development in the relationship between federal immigration enforcement and state courts. The Justice Department under Trump has directed federal prosecutors to pursue criminal cases against local officials who interfere with immigration enforcement, but the arrest of a sitting judge marks a dramatic escalation of this approach.
The move comes as part of a broader immigration crackdown that has included disputes with federal judges who have limited various aspects of the administration's policies. However, targeting a state court judge for actions taken in the course of official duties raises new questions about judicial independence and the boundaries between federal and state authority.
As this case proceeds through the courts, it will likely have profound implications for how judges across the country navigate the intersection of immigration enforcement and their obligations to ensure due process in their courtrooms.
Sources: This article was compiled using information from multiple news outlets reporting on the arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan and Attorney General Pam Bondi's statements on the case. Information was gathered from CNN, The Washington Post, ABC News, Reuters, Fox News, NBC News, CBS News, and Axios, all of which covered the events of April 25, 2025. The article includes details from official court documents and statements from various officials involved in or responding to the case.
