The FBI has arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan, charging her with obstruction and concealing an individual after she allegedly assisted an undocumented immigrant in evading arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

The incident, which occurred on April 18, 2025, at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, has sparked significant controversy and debate, escalating tensions between the Trump administration and the judiciary amid a broader immigration crackdown.

According to multiple reports, ICE agents arrived at the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 18 with a warrant to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a 30-year-old Mexican immigrant facing three misdemeanor battery charges.

Flores-Ruiz was scheduled to appear before Judge Dugan at 9:30 a.m. Court documents and news outlets, including The Independent and Reuters, allege that Dugan, upon learning of the ICE agents’ presence, directed Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a side door leading to a private hallway and a public area on the sixth floor, allowing him to temporarily evade arrest.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Dugan claimed in an email that no warrant was presented to her, though ICE agents were instructed to wait in the hallway outside her courtroom.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest in a now-deleted post on X, stating, “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.”

Patel further claimed that Dugan “intentionally misdirected federal agents,” creating “increased danger to the public.” Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the arrest in a separate X post, emphasizing, “No one is above the law.”

Despite Flores-Ruiz’s eventual capture by ICE agents after a foot chase, Dugan’s actions led to her being charged with two federal felony counts: obstruction and concealing an individual.

Dugan, a 65-year-old judge who has served on the Milwaukee County bench since 2016, is a respected figure in Wisconsin’s legal community, with a career focused on civil law and misdemeanor cases.

Her arrest marks the first known instance of the Trump administration’s Justice Department prosecuting a local official for allegedly interfering with immigration enforcement, aligning with President Donald Trump’s directive to pursue criminal cases against officials who obstruct ICE operations.

NBC News described the arrest as a “significant escalation” of the administration’s immigration crackdown, noting that Dugan was apprehended at 8:30 a.m. in the courthouse parking lot and transferred to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

The incident has drawn polarized reactions. Republican State Rep. Bob Donovan condemned Dugan’s alleged actions as “irresponsible,” stating, “In all my years of Milwaukee politics and public safety issues, working with cops, district attorneys, and judges, I have never seen a more irresponsible act by an officer of the court, if true.”

Conversely, Democratic lawmakers expressed outrage, with Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) calling the arrest an example of the Trump administration “breaking norms” and comparing it to actions expected in “Third World countries.”

Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) questioned the administration’s commitment to law and order, stating, “They arrested a judge?! This will have to be a red line for congressional Republicans. Unbelievable.”

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley criticized Patel’s statement as evidence of “weaponizing federal law enforcement” and “intimidating anyone who opposes those policies.”

Dugan’s attorney, Craig Mastantuono, defended her during a brief federal court hearing on April 25, stating that the judge “wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest” and arguing that it was “not made in the interest of public safety.”

Dugan was released from custody following the hearing. The Independent noted that the allegations were initially amplified by right-wing radio host Dan O’Donnell, who posted on X about Dugan’s investigation days before her arrest.