On Friday, April 25, 2025, Reuters reported that U.S. officials arrested a judge from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, charging her with obstructing an immigration arrest amid ongoing tensions between local authorities and the Trump administration over immigration enforcement.
Hannah Dugan, a circuit judge in Milwaukee County, is accused of aiding a man in evading arrest by immigration agents. According to a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Justice Department, Dugan intervened when federal agents attempted to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz outside her courtroom on April 18. The agents, who did not possess a judicial warrant, were reportedly hindered by Dugan, who allowed Flores-Ruiz to exit through a side door intended for jurors.
Flores-Ruiz had been appearing in court on misdemeanor battery charges linked to domestic abuse. After leaving the courthouse with his attorney, he was arrested by immigration agents outside the building, following a brief foot chase. The complaint indicates that Flores-Ruiz had previously been deported to Mexico.
Dugan briefly appeared in federal court in Milwaukee to face the charges against her, which include obstructing a government proceeding and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. She was released after the hearing and is set to enter a plea on May 15. Following her release, a crowd gathered outside the courthouse, chanting for her freedom as she departed through a side exit without making any statements.
A spokesperson for Dugan stated that she intends to vigorously defend herself and is looking forward to being exonerated. The arrest has sparked protests, highlighting the divisive nature of immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, which has pursued aggressive policies since taking office in January 2017.
Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the seriousness of the charges, stating that no individual, particularly a judge, should obstruct law enforcement operations. The Trump administration has faced increasing confrontations with federal judges, many of whom have issued rulings that limit its use of presidential power in immigration matters.
FBI Director Kash Patel commented on social media regarding Dugan’s arrest, referring to Flores-Ruiz as an “illegal alien,” but later deleted the post, which may have violated court secrecy rules prior to the case becoming public.
U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, a senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressed concern over the implications of arresting a sitting judge, questioning how such actions contribute to public safety. He criticized the Trump administration for testing the boundaries of the Constitution and interfering with the criminal justice system.
In a related development, federal authorities arrested a former judge from New Mexico last week, charging him with evidence tampering. Joel Cano and his wife are accused of helping a man linked to a Venezuelan street gang destroy evidence related to illegal gun possession.
The criminal complaint against Dugan describes her as having become visibly upset when immigration agents arrived to arrest Flores-Ruiz, stating it was “absurd” that they sought to detain him without a judicial warrant. Dugan questioned the agents about their authority, leading them to inform her that they had only an administrative warrant from the Department of Homeland Security. She directed the agents to speak with the chief judge about the lack of a judicial warrant.
After adjourning the hearing, Dugan allegedly instructed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney to leave through a non-public area of the courthouse, which facilitated his escape from the agents waiting outside. The agents apprehended Flores-Ruiz approximately 22 minutes after he left the court.
Dugan has been a judge since her election in 2016 and previously led the local branch of Catholic Charities, which provides refugee resettlement services. She also worked as a lawyer for the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee.
Source: Reuters
