The FBI arrested a Wisconsin judge Friday morning for allegedly hiding a previously deported illegal immigrant in her jury room in order to stop him from being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested and charged with obstruction of an official proceeding after evidence came to light that she had shielded the migrant from ICE agents, according to a criminal complaint. She was also charged with concealing an individual to prevent discovery and arrest.
Federal agents from ICE, FBI, CBP and DEA attempted to arrest the undocumented male – Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz – following his scheduled criminal court appearance before Dugan on April 18 to face three misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly beating up two people.
Dugan demanded that the officers proceed to the chief judge’s office and – after his hearing ended – escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney out a restricted jury door, bypassing the public area where agents were waiting in order to help him avoid arrest, per the complaint.
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Dugan appeared in federal court in Milwaukee on Friday and made no public comments during the brief hearing, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, told the court: "Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety." Her next court appearance is May 15.
In a statement, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, accused the Trump administration of removing judges who don't rule in its favor and of repeatedly using "dangerous rhetoric to attack and attempt to undermine our judiciary at every level, including disobeying the highest court in the land."
"I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law," he said.
Earlier this week, Dugan disputed the accuracy of local reports which claimed she had shielded the illegal migrant from ICE.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that Dugan had responded to the accusations in its publication on Tuesday, writing: "Nearly every fact regarding the 'tips' in your email is inaccurate."
Border czar Tom Homan, who is responsible for implementing the Trump administration's deportation program, said no one should be surprised by the arrest surrounding Dugan and a former judge in New Mexico who was also arrested this week.
"I have said many times within the past few months, that people can choose to support illegal immigration and not assist ICE in removing criminal illegal aliens from our communities, BUT DON’T CROSS THAT LINE," Homan wrote on X. "If you actively impede our enforcement efforts or if you knowingly harbor or conceal illegal aliens from ICE you will be prosecuted. These actions are felonies. More to come."
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Fox News Digital contacted Dugan’s office by phone on Wednesday, and a worker said the judge was in court and would return the call. Fox News Digital contacted Dugan again on Thursday and has not yet received a response.
Attorney General Pam Bondi blasted Dugan's actions on America Reports.
"We could not believe that a judge really did that," Bondi said. "You cannot obstruct a criminal case. And really, shame on her. It was a domestic violence case of all cases, and she's protecting a criminal defendant over victims of crime."
Bondi said that Flores-Ruiz had beat up two people, "a guy and a girl."
"[He] beat the guy, hit the guy 30 times, knocked him to the ground, choked him, beat up a woman so badly, they both had to go to the hospital."
FBI Director Kash Patel said Dugan deliberately obstructed the arrest.
"We believe 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," he wrote on X. "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."
Flores-Ruiz was arrested after officials said they found probable cause that he was removable under U.S. immigration law, given he was previously deported and never sought or obtained permission to re-enter the country. When agents identified themselves to him outside the court on April 18, he fled the scene on foot but was arrested after a short chase, according to the complaint.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson blasted the Trump administration for the arrest, labeling it as "showboating" and said it would have a chilling effect on people appearing before the courts.
"They're just trying to have this show of force and in the process of doing this in a courthouse where people need to go for court proceedings they're they're scaring people away from participating in the process… and that makes our community less safe," Johnson said in a press briefing Friday.
In a statement released later, Johnson said the Trump administration should focus more on addressing the economy and "remedying the mistakes" made while slashing federal programs instead of "settling scores."
When asked if Flores-Ruiz should be deported, Johnson said he didn't have any information about him.
"I'm talking specifically about the Trump administration's actions as it relates to this case and what they've been doing with immigration overall since he's been president. They're scaring people in this community. "They're scaring people in immigrant communities all across the United States."
The incident comes after two people were arrested by ICE officials in the hallways of the courthouse in recent weeks, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
It also follows a New Mexico judge and his wife who were arrested on Thursday for allegedly harboring an illegal migrant and Tren de Aragua member.
State Rep. Bob Donovan, a Republican, addressed the accusations against Dugan earlier this week and said that the FBI was investigating.
"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, let alone a judge, if true," Donovan said in a statement. "This borders on obstruction of justice and I hope the FBI continues a thorough investigation and, if warranted, prosecution to the fullest extent of the law."
READ THE CRIMINAL COMPLAINT BELOW. APP USERS CLICK HERE.
Dugan has worked with legal aid organizations and as executive director of Catholic Charities in the past. She was elected to Branch 31 of the Circuit Court in 2016 and ran unopposed in the 2022 election. She primarily oversees cases in its misdemeanor division, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Sen. Dirk Durbin, D-Ill., condemned the judge's arrest, saying the Trump administration "continues to test the limits of our Constitution."
"When immigration enforcement officials interfere with our criminal justice system, it undermines public safety, prevents victims and witnesses from coming forward, and often prevents those who committed crimes from facing justice in the United States," he said. "How does this make America any safer? How does arresting a sitting judge make America any safer? It is imperative that Judge Dugan is afforded due process and the presumption of innocence, as required by our Constitution and her fundamental rights as an American."
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