On Friday, April 25, 2025, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge in Wisconsin, on charges of obstruction. The arrest stems from allegations that Judge Dugan deliberately interfered with an immigration enforcement operation at her courthouse, allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, evade arrest by federal agents 134678.
Details of the Allegations
- FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest on social media, stating that 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”167.
- The incident reportedly took place the previous week during an attempt by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain Flores Ruiz at the courthouse46.
- Patel emphasized that the judge’s actions increased the risk to public safety, but agents were ultimately able to apprehend Flores Ruiz after a pursuit4.
Significance and Context
- This is the first known instance of the Trump administration charging a local official, particularly a judge, with interfering in federal immigration enforcement25.
- The arrest marks a significant escalation in tensions between federal immigration authorities and local officials, highlighting the ongoing conflict over immigration enforcement in the United States5.
- The Department of Justice and ICE have not yet provided additional comments, and the FBI’s initial announcement was later deleted from social media58.
Response and Next Steps
- Judge Dugan, who was elected to her position, had previously responded to inquiries about the FBI investigation by disputing the accuracy of details in media reports5.
- The case is still developing, with further updates expected as more information becomes available from federal authorities and the courts135.
Key Points
- Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI for allegedly obstructing an ICE operation at her courthouse in Milwaukee 134678.
- She is accused of intentionally misleading federal agents to help an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest 1467.
- The incident is unprecedented and signals heightened federal scrutiny of local officials’ roles in immigration enforcement 25.
This remains a breaking news story, and further details will emerge as the investigation and legal proceedings continue.
Citations:
- https://www.axios.com/2025/04/25/fbi-arrests-judge-wisconsin-hannah-dugan-kash-patel
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/04/25/wisconsin-judge-arrest-fbi-ice-immigration-enforcement/
- https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/25/politics/fbi-director-wisconsin-judge-arrested/index.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/2025/04/25/fbi-arrest-judge-hannah-dugan-milwaukee.html
- https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/25/fbi-arrest-judge-milwaukee-immigration-00309382
- https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-hannah-dugan-arrested-fbi-allegedly-helping-undocumented/story?id=121161497
- https://apnews.com/article/immigration-judge-arrested-7997186bbca5730e70a25f2347e631f6
- https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-director-says-arrested-judge-obstructing-immigration-operation-2025-04-25/
Sources: Midtown Tribune , tv503.com/?p=26891