On Friday morning, United States authorities arrested Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge. The decision was based on the judge's alleged assistance in helping an individual evade arrest at the courthouse the previous week.
At around 8:30 a.m., Dugan was arrested in the same courthouse where she works, facing charges of obstruction and harboring a person to avoid arrest. The judge appeared in federal court that day.
It all began on April 18, when members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with the FBI and DEA, appeared in court to execute an administrative detention order against Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was facing charges of minor assault.
During the hearing, a clearly angry Dugan described the situation as ridiculous and allegedly allowed Flores-Ruiz to leave through a jury entrance, thereby preventing him from being arrested on the premises.
The officers then pursued the individual on foot after he left the area and arrested him on a nearby corner.
FBI Director Kash Patel announced Dugan's arrest in a since-deleted social media post, blaming the judge for compromising public safety by interfering with the arrest mission.
Pam Bondi, the U.S. attorney general who was briefed on the arrest, defended the officers' actions and emphasized that "no one is above the law."
On the other hand, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley warned that the judge is fully entitled to due process and the corresponding guarantees. Meanwhile, Democrat Gwen Moore called the actions of the federal officers excessive.
Dugan's arrest comes within the context of a Justice Department strategy to prosecute local officials who obstruct immigration-related actions. This action is part of the initiatives included in the recent immigration policy implemented by Donald Trump.
Hannah Dugan has served as a judge since 2016. Throughout her career, she has dedicated significant time to supporting at-risk communities, most notably leading the local Catholic Charities office and her experience at the Milwaukee Legal Aid Society.
