A Wisconsin judge has been arrested and charged with obstruction after allegedly assisting an undocumented immigrant in evading arrest by federal authorities. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan faces serious charges after FBI Director Kash Patel accused her of deliberately misleading immigration agents who were attempting to detain a Mexican national last week. “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,” Patel posted on social media.
During an initial court hearing on Friday, Dugan’s attorney stated that the judge “wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest,” arguing it was not made in the interest of public safety. Dugan, who faces charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to avoid arrest, could be sentenced to up to six years in prison if convicted. She was released on her own recognizance and is due back in court on May 15.
The charges relate to events that unfolded in Dugan’s courtroom on April 18. According to federal court documents, the previous day an immigration judge had issued a warrant for the arrest of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican citizen facing misdemeanor battery charges linked to a domestic dispute. When Flores-Ruiz appeared in court, six agents from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, and the Drug Enforcement Agency arrived at the courthouse to take him into custody. Upon learning of the agents’ presence, Judge Dugan allegedly became visibly upset, left the bench, and argued with the agents over the validity of the arrest warrant.
Court documents allege that Judge Dugan instructed the agents to report to the chief judge’s office, and while several agents were away, she helped Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer exit through a private door reserved for jurors. Two agents remained nearby, spotted the escape attempt, and after a brief chase, apprehended Flores-Ruiz outside the courthouse. Authorities noted that Flores-Ruiz had previously been deported in 2013.
Dugan’s arrest came a day after another former judge in New Mexico was arrested for allegedly harboring a Venezuelan gang member, raising broader concerns about judicial conduct in immigration matters. Attorney General Pam Bondi told Fox News that “some of these judges think they are beyond and above the law,” emphasizing that obstructing justice, especially in domestic violence cases, would not be tolerated.
The incident has sparked a sharp partisan reaction. Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat, described Dugan’s arrest as a “gravely serious and drastic move,” warning that targeting the judiciary undermines democracy. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson echoed this sentiment, criticizing the move as political “showboating” that could have a chilling effect on judicial proceedings. Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s Republican Senator Ron Johnson emphasized the need to cooperate with federal agents and condemned any obstruction that could endanger law enforcement or the public.
Judge Dugan was first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2022, with support from Milwaukee’s Democratic mayor, although judicial races in Wisconsin are officially nonpartisan. If convicted, she could face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for obstruction, and up to one year and a $100,000 fine for the concealment charge.
The case has drawn comparisons to a 2019 incident during Donald Trump’s presidency when Massachusetts Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph was charged with obstruction for allowing an undocumented immigrant to avoid ICE agents. Although the charges against Joseph were dropped in 2022, she remains under an ongoing ethics investigation.
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