On April 25, 2025, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by federal agents and charged with obstruction and concealing an individual to avoid arrest. The charges stem from an incident in her courtroom where Judge Dugan allegedly helped a Mexican national evade immigration agents during a scheduled court appearance.
The FBI claims Dugan directed the defendant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz—previously deported in 2013—through a side exit to avoid arrest. He was later apprehended after a brief chase. Dugan has denied wrongdoing through her attorney and is scheduled for a hearing on May 15.
Legal experts and elected officials have voiced alarm over what they see as a politically motivated and dangerous escalation against the judiciary. Critics, including Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, warn that the arrest threatens judicial independence and could chill courtroom proceedings. Supporters of the arrest argue it reinforces the rule of law.
This marks the second high-profile case of judicial arrest linked to immigration enforcement under the Trump administration’s renewed crackdown, raising broader concerns about democratic backsliding and the politicization of the legal system.