Wisconsin judge, Hannah Dugan arrested for allegedly obstructing immigration arrest

Federal agents have arrested Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan on charges of obstruction after allegedly attempting to help an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest.

FBI Director Kash Patel accused Dugan of “intentionally misdirecting” immigration agents who were attempting to arrest Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican national, during his court appearance on April 18. Patel wrote on X that the agents managed to apprehend Flores-Ruiz after a brief foot chase, but Dugan’s actions increased the risk to public safety.

During her preliminary hearing on Friday, Dugan’s lawyer stated that the judge “wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest,” asserting that her actions were not in the interest of public safety.

Dugan faces charges of obstruction and concealing an individual to avoid arrest, which could lead to a maximum sentence of six years in prison if convicted on both counts. She was released on her own recognizance and is scheduled for a hearing on May 15.

The incident took place in Dugan’s courtroom when immigration agents, along with officials from the FBI and DEA, arrived to arrest Flores-Ruiz, who faced misdemeanor battery charges from a domestic altercation. The agents identified themselves and waited outside the courtroom, but Dugan reportedly became upset upon learning of their presence. She left the bench and entered her chambers, where she argued with agents about the arrest warrant before instructing them to go to the chief judge’s office.

Meanwhile, Dugan escorted Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer to a side door leading out of the courthouse, while two agents observed Flores-Ruiz attempting to flee. He was apprehended shortly after a brief chase.

The arrest of Dugan followed a similar case in New Mexico, where a former judge was taken into custody for allegedly harboring a Venezuelan gang member. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned both actions, stressing that judges must adhere to the law.

Reactions to Dugan’s arrest were mixed, with Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin criticizing the move as an attack on the judicial system. On the other hand, Senator Ron Johnson advised cooperation with federal law enforcement.

Dugan, who was elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2022, is facing serious charges. The obstruction charge carries a maximum of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, while the concealment charge could result in up to one year in prison and a $100,000 fine.

This case is reminiscent of an incident in Massachusetts in 2019 when Judge Shelley M. Richmond Joseph was arrested for helping an undocumented immigrant escape a courtroom. Though the charges against her were dropped in 2022, an ethics complaint remains pending.