Milwaukee Judge Arrested in Dramatic ICE Showdown
The arrest of a sitting judge is rare. But when it happens just steps away from the courthouse she presides in — by federal agents, no less — it sends shockwaves far beyond the courtroom.
That's exactly what unfolded in Milwaukee when Judge Hannah Dugan was taken into FBI custody on charges that have reignited a national conversation about immigration enforcement, judicial independence, and the boundaries of lawful authority.
A Morning Arrest and Unusual Allegations
On the morning of April 25, Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by the FBI outside the Milwaukee County Courthouse. According to law enforcement officials, she was detained just before entering the building and later handed over to the U.S. Marshals. The charges? A rarely used federal felony — concealing a person to prevent arrest — and obstructing a federal agency proceeding.
These charges stem from an incident the previous week, when U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents showed up to her courtroom intending to arrest a man named Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was in court on unrelated domestic violence charges.
Federal authorities allege that Dugan helped Flores-Ruiz evade immigration agents by leading him and his attorney through a restricted jury door — a route typically reserved for jurors, deputies, and in-custody defendants. ICE agents claim they later had to chase the man down on foot outside the courthouse, where he was ultimately apprehended.
Inside the Courtroom: What Happened?
According to the FBI affidavit, Dugan became visibly upset when told that ICE agents were waiting in the courthouse hallway. According to NBC News, she reportedly called the situation "absurd," asked whether the agents had a judicial warrant (they didn't — only an administrative one), and then demanded they speak with the chief judge.
The federal complaint states that she returned to her courtroom and told Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer to follow her out the jury door, which does not lead to public exits. This act, federal officials argue, was not just unorthodox — it constituted obstruction of justice. Flores-Ruiz, they claim, was able to temporarily avoid ICE agents, increasing public risk and violating federal law.
Legal Fallout and Rare Charges
The obstruction charge filed against Dugan is not just serious — it's also extremely rare. The obstruction charge falls under Section 1505, which addresses obstruction of proceedings before federal departments and agencies. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the statute has only been used twice in Wisconsin since 1970 — both times in workplace safety cases, not against judges.
If convicted, Dugan faces up to six years in prison. Her legal team, led by former U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic, has stated that Dugan will "defend herself vigorously and looks forward to being exonerated," according to ABC News.
Dugan entered a plea of not guilty in her first appearance as a defendant. Her trial is set to begin the week of July 21. Her attorneys have moved to dismiss the charges against her, citing that she operated in her official capacity and this has "absolute immunity from criminal prosecution," according to CBS News.
Suspended From the Bench
Following the charges, the Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspended Dugan from her judicial duties. In a formal order, the court said the suspension was necessary to maintain public confidence in the state's judicial system while the criminal proceedings are ongoing.
A reserve judge has since taken over Dugan's courtroom duties, and no further comment has been made by the court or Dugan's clerk.
The Man at the Center: Eduardo Flores-Ruiz
Flores-Ruiz, the defendant ICE sought to arrest, had previously been deported in 2013 and was later charged in Milwaukee with three misdemeanor counts of battery/domestic abuse. The charges stem from a March altercation with his roommates, during which he allegedly struck one woman and elbowed another, according to police reports.
He now remains in federal custody.
Two of Flores-Ruiz's alleged victims were in the courtroom that day. While they expressed hope that he would be held accountable for the attack, they declined to comment on the judge's alleged actions or whether they supported his deportation, as reported by NBC News.
Fuel on the Fire?
The arrest has heightened an already charged national debate over immigration enforcement and judicial authority. Protesters gathered outside the FBI's Milwaukee field office following Dugan's arrest, holding signs reading "Liberty and Justice for All" and chanting, "Immigrants are here to stay," according to the Associated Press.
Whether the charges stick — and whether this case sets a precedent — remains to be seen. Yet this arrest has reignited national conversations about how far state officials can go when federal agents enter their courtrooms, and who gets to draw the line.
References: FBI arrests Milwaukee judge, alleging she interfered in immigration operation | Federal felony charge filed against Hannah Dugan only used twice before in state since 1970 | Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspends Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan after arrest | Protesters chant after arrest of judge accused of helping man evade immigration authorities | Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan enters not guilty plea on obstruction charges
