MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested Friday morning by the FBI for allegedly assisting an undocumented immigrant in avoiding arrest after he appeared in her courtroom last week.
Dugan was stopped by federal agents at the courthouse and arrested before appearing in U.S. District Court, where she was charged with two felonies. In court, Dugan was charged with obstructing or impeding a proceeding before a United States department or agency and concealing an individual to prevent their discovery and arrest, according to a criminal complaint.
Related: Protesters rally at Milwaukee federal courthouse following judge's arrest
In a now-deleted post on X, FBI Director Kash Patel said Dugan was taken into custody on charges of obstruction "after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week."
Federal agents say this traces back to an arrest they were attempting to make inside the Milwaukee County Courthouse on April 18. The complaint outlines the plans to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, who was charged with battery and abuse following an altercation with his roommates in Milwaukee. Prosecutors say he is in the country illegally.
He was scheduled to appear in Judge Dugan's courtroom that day. The complaint states agents identified themselves and went to Dugan's courtroom, where they waited outside for Flores-Ruiz's hearing to conclude.
Agents say Dugan was informed that they were outside her courtroom, and then halted court proceedings and escorted the agents to Chief Judge Carl Ashley's office. Documents indicate that the agents remained there while witnesses observed Dugan leave and return to her courtroom, where she "escorted Flores-Ruiz through a jury door to avoid his arrest."
The agents then claimed that Flores-Ruiz made it out of the courthouse and was quickly arrested after they chased him down.
Dugan has been released from federal custody, and is scheduled to appear in federal court again on May 15 at 9 a.m., according to court records.
An spokesperson for the judge released a statement Friday evening on her behalf saying, “Judge Hannah C. Dugan has committed herself to the rule of law and the principles of due process for her entire career as a lawyer and a judge. She has retained former United States Attorney Steven Biskupic to represent her. Judge Dugan will defend herself vigorously, and looks forward to being exonerated.”
Reaction to Dugan's arrest
News of Dugan's arrest spread fast, sparking reaction from Milwaukee officials and politicians, including U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, who expressed alarm over what she calls an unprecedented breach of constitutional principles, arguing the administration's actions threaten fundamental democratic structures.
Just in:
— Charles Benson (@CharlesBenson4) April 25, 2025
Sen Baldwin’s response to FBI arresting a Milwaukee Judge.
“The President’s administration arresting a sitting judge is a gravely serious and drastic move, and it threatens to breach those very separations of power.”
Full statement👇 pic.twitter.com/Tvdd83JKtJ
District One Chief Judge Carl Ashley of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court also released a statement, noting that he could not comment on the situation due to the judicial code of conduct. He added that Dugan's court calendar would be "covered by another judge as needed."
Meanwhile, dozens of protesters gathered outside the courthouse, telling TMJ4 they are asking for transparency, due process, and answers.
“This action seems to obstruct the proper due process of law, which is continuing to happen in our country and is very uncomfortable for any citizen,” said Balise Torrence, who attended the protest. “We want a better explanation. Today, we want to express our discomfort for this obstruction of the due process, and we want to see changes.”
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley held a press conference Friday afternoon after news of Dugan’s arrest.
You can watch the full press conference here:
Some, though, are voicing their support for Dugan's arrest, including Rep. Bob Donovan, who said the judge has no one to blame but herself.
"It’s never a pretty thing when it becomes necessary to arrest a judge,” Donovan said. “Sadly if in fact these allegations are correct, Judge Dugan has no one to blame but herself. As far as I’m concerned, her behavior was outrageously irresponsible, and she’s dug her own grave really.”
Rep. Bob Donovan says he supports Milwaukee Co. Judge Dugan being arrested and federally charged for allegedly assisting an undocumented immigrant in trying to avoid arrest after he appeared in court last week. Donovan adds that he's surprised the arrest happened so quickly @tmj4 pic.twitter.com/pHx3s6jxry
— Ben Jordan (@BenJordan3) April 25, 2025
Department of Homeland Security responds
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) also weighed in on Dugan's arrest in an issued press release, which stated, in part, that Flores-Ruiz "has a laundry list of violent criminal charges including strangulation and suffocation, battery, and domestic abuse," and that the "judge’s actions to shield an accused violent criminal illegal alien from justice is shocking and shameful."
The statement, released by DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, went on to thank the FBI for arresting Dugan, and stating that "if you are here illegally and break the law, we will hunt you down, arrest you and lock you up."
Related: Defense attorney provides context in Milwaukee County judge's arrest
Who is Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan?
Dugan is currently in her ninth year as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge, primarily overseeing cases in the Misdemeanor division, according to the court's website. She serves as the judge for Branch 31 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in Wisconsin. Dugan assumed office in 2016 after defeating incumbent Paul Rifelji.
She ran for re-election unopposed in 2022, and her current term is set to end on August 1, 2028.
Her arrest comes in the same week that a lawsuit was filed against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging that three students at UW-Madison unfairly had their F-1 student visas revoked.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
