FBI arrests Judge Hannah Dugan for allegedly helping immigrant evade ICE

Federal agents detained Judge Hannah Dugan at her Milwaukee courthouse Friday morning, with confirmation from a US Marshals spokesperson.

Dugan faces charges of obstruction and concealing an individual wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

FBI Director Kash Patel claimed, "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."

Patel's statement, later deleted from social media, continued, "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."

Judge Hannah Dugan, Milwaukee County Circuit Court (Photo: Facebook)

Dugan remains in federal custody awaiting her initial appearance in the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Administration crackdown and timeline of events

Judge Dugan's arrest marks a new escalation in the Trump administration's efforts to hold local officials accountable on immigration enforcement.

The Justice Department has repeatedly asserted it will investigate and charge local authorities who hinder federal immigration actions.

According to the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, ICE agents presented a warrant and identification before entering Judge Dugan's courtroom last week.

The chief judge said agents waited until court proceedings finished. Reports indicate that when Flores-Ruiz learned ICE was there to detain him, he fled the courthouse and was briefly pursued before being apprehended nearby.

Judge Dugan now awaits a federal court decision in a case likely to set a precedent for how local and federal authorities interact on immigration enforcement.