The FBI and U.S. Marshal Service confirmed the arrest of Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday, following allegations that she helped an illegal immigrant evade federal immigration authorities at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.
Judge Dugan now faces federal charges of obstruction and concealing an individual, serious offenses that carry potential felony penalties.
The charges stem from an incident last week involving Eduardo Flores Ruiz, a Mexican national wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for immigration violations.
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According to federal authorities, Judge Dugan allegedly misdirected federal agents who were attempting to detain Flores Ruiz following a court appearance on unrelated criminal charges.
FBI Director Kash Patel commented on the incident in a post on X, writing: “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.”
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…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 25, 2025
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The arrest of Judge Dugan quickly drew media attention.
On CNN, anchor Wolf Blitzer called the development “very dramatic and significant,” and senior crime and justice correspondent Kaitlin Polantz added, “This is something that we have certainly not seen before, but appears to be part of this aggressive approach the Trump administration has toward immigration.”
Polantz continued, noting, “It would be a startling development if this judge was arrested as she was working on the bench as a judge handling an immigration case or a case of a person that ICE was also interested in.”
Judge Dugan’s arrest marks the latest escalation in President Donald Trump’s administration’s efforts to crack down on illegal immigration and hold public officials accountable when they obstruct federal enforcement operations.
Under FBI Director Patel’s leadership, the agency has adopted a more aggressive stance on immigration enforcement, signaling a departure from past federal practices.
This is the second time a sitting judge has been arrested for allegedly assisting an illegal immigrant in avoiding ICE custody during Trump’s presidency.
During Trump’s first term, Massachusetts Judge Shelley Joseph was indicted on similar charges but later had the case dropped by the Biden-Harris administration.
In a separate but related case, New Mexico Judge Joel Cano resigned after federal authorities arrested an illegal immigrant linked to a gang who had been living on his family’s property.
Cano is now permanently barred from serving in any judicial capacity.
Federal court documents recently unsealed reveal additional details regarding the charges against Dugan.
They reinforce the Trump administration’s commitment to strict immigration law enforcement, extending accountability even to members of the judiciary who interfere with federal operations.
The Trump administration has also made changes within the immigration court system.
Since February, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) has dismissed more than two dozen immigration judges, aiming to accelerate deportations and reduce asylum hearing backlogs.
Acting EOIR Director Sirce Owen explained the personnel changes were necessary to restore accountability and correct what she described as excessive autonomy previously enjoyed by administrative judges.
Judge Dugan’s next court appearance has not yet been scheduled. Flores Ruiz remains in federal custody as immigration proceedings move forward.
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