In a dramatic escalation of tensions between local authorities and the federal government over immigration enforcement, a Wisconsin judge has been arrested and charged with obstructing a federal immigration operation.
On Friday, U.S. authorities arrested Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge, accusing her of aiding a man in evading an immigration arrest on April 18. The charges stem from an incident in which Dugan allegedly obstructed immigration agents who were attempting to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a man facing misdemeanor charges in her courtroom. The agents, who lacked a judicial warrant, attempted to arrest Flores-Ruiz after he left Dugan’s courtroom, but the judge reportedly directed him through a jury door, evading the agents’ capture.
Flores-Ruiz, who had been previously deported, was later apprehended outside the courthouse after a brief foot chase. Dugan faces charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to prevent arrest. The arrest has sparked protests, with a crowd gathering outside the Milwaukee courthouse chanting, “Free the judge now.”
Dugan, who was briefly arraigned in federal court, was released pending her next court appearance on May 15. In a statement from her publicity firm, she expressed confidence in her defense, vowing to vigorously contest the charges and asserting that she would be exonerated.
The arrest underscores the increasingly bitter conflict between President Trump’s administration and local officials resisting aggressive immigration crackdowns. Since the early days of Trump’s presidency, federal prosecutors have pursued cases against local authorities who block immigration enforcement, including earlier efforts to charge Massachusetts judges with similar offenses.
The Department of Homeland Security condemned Dugan’s actions, accusing her of shielding a “violent criminal illegal alien” from justice. The confrontation highlights the contentious intersection of state and federal powers, with critics of the administration arguing that such arrests undermine the functioning of the judiciary.
This case follows the arrest of former New Mexico judge Joel Cano earlier this week, who was charged with evidence tampering after allegedly assisting a man with ties to a Venezuelan street gang in destroying evidence. The political and legal ramifications of these high-profile arrests continue to unfold, with growing debate over the role of local judges in federal immigration matters.
