FBI Arrests a Judge on Charges of Helping an Immigrant Avoid ICE Arrest in Her Courtroom

The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on felony counts of obstructing or impeding a proceeding of a federal agency and concealing a person to prevent his arrest.

Dugan is accused of helping Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an reportedly undocumented Mexican immigrant, avoid being detained on an administrative immigration warrant by escorting him and his defense attorney out through a jury door that is not public.

She was arrested in the courthouse parking lot and handed over to custody of the U.S. Marshal service. She appeared at a brief hearing before federal Magistrate Judge Stephen C. Dries at the federal courthouse after being arrested. She was released on bond with her next hearing set for 15 May 2025. The maximum penalty on the charges against her would be 6 years and a $350,000 fine.

FBI Director Kash Patel broke the news of her arrest in a post on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter). His post said the FBI believed she “intentionally misdirected federal agents” when the “subject to be arrested” appeared in her court for another matter. He later deleted his post.

ICE planned to arrest Flores-Ruiz 18 April 2025 during a hearing in Dugan’s court. He faced three counts of misdemeanor battery with modifiers for domestic violence which could increase his punishment if convicted. He was accused of playing music too loudly, which led to an altercation in which he struck another man 30 times and struck a woman who tried to stop the fight.

ICE agents appeared in the hallway while Dugan was presiding in court. A courtroom deputy said she became visibly angry when a clerk told her the ICE agents were there. Later reporting said two agents were from the FBI, two from the DEA and one from ICE, all working for the Department of Homeland Security. Dugan and another judge confronted the agents. Dugan asked whether they had a judicial warrant.

One of the agents admitted their warrant was only administrative. Dugan insisted that the agent talk with the chief judge.

The FBI says Dugan escorted Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a jury door. The jury door leads to a public hallway, like the main door to the courtroom. Reports varied between saying ICE agents chased Flores-Ruiz on foot or rode the elevator down with him, then captured him. He is reportedly in a detention center in Juneau.

This incident was at least the third time in recent months that ICE has gone to this courthouse to capture an immigrant. It is the first known instance of Donald Trump’s regime filing charges against a local official for interference with ICE.

Click here for more details.