Mathias Busekist
It has opened a new front in the Trump administration’s aggressive attempt to carry out a historic deportation campaign.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested Friday by the FBI and charged in federal court with obstruction of justice and concealing a person from arrest, marking a dramatic escalation in the federal government’s crackdown on immigration enforcement.
“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,” FBI Director Kash Patel said on X in a post Friday morning.
“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.”
According to charging documents, Dugan allegedly helped Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant, evade arrest inside the courthouse. Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national deported in 2013, had reentered the United States illegally and was recently arrested in a local domestic abuse case.
Federal agents, who arrived at Dugan’s courtroom on April 18 to arrest him, say the judge became visibly upset, called the situation “absurd,” and directed the agents to speak with the chief judge, arguing they lacked the appropriate warrant.
Witnesses, including Dugan’s courtroom staff and prosecutors, reported that Dugan then guided Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a jury door leading to a nonpublic area, allowing them to flee the courthouse. Although agents pursued Flores-Ruiz and eventually captured him outside the building, officials said the judge’s actions increased the risk to public safety.
FBI Director Kash Patel condemned Dugan’s actions, stating on X that she “intentionally misdirected federal agents,” and emphasized that the situation could have endangered the public.
In court Friday, Dugan’s attorney said she “wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest,” maintaining that her actions were not intended to compromise safety.
The Trump administration quickly pointed to Dugan’s arrest as evidence of its commitment to strict immigration enforcement. Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Fox News that “obstructing justice when victims are in a courtroom will not be tolerated,” adding that some judges wrongly believe they are “above the law.” Former acting ICE Director Tom Homan echoed that sentiment, warning that officials who impede immigration enforcement would face prosecution.
The arrest comes amid intensifying conflicts between federal immigration authorities and local jurisdictions, highlighting the political and legal tensions surrounding immigration policy in the United States.