Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by federal officials on the morning of April 25, 2025. The arrest was made at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, a historic courthouse in MacArthur Square that has been standing since 1931 and is now in dire need of emergency upgrades.
Judge Dugan, 65, was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service around 8 a.m. She is charged with interference with a federal immigration arrest of an illegal immigrant in her courtroom last week.
Accusation of Aiding Immigration Evasion
Federal officials accuse Judge Dugan of attempting to assist a defendant in avoiding arrest by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The event reportedly took place on April 18, when ICE officers entered her courtroom during a pre-trial hearing for a man named Eduardo Flores-Ruiz.
Flores-Ruiz, 30, is a Mexican-born immigrant who was charged with three misdemeanor counts of battery. Sources say that when the ICE agents arrived at the courthouse, Dugan led Flores-Ruiz and his attorney through a restricted hallway, separate from the agents, so that they could re-enter the public hallway on the sixth floor.
Federal authorities say that this action assisted the defendant in avoiding arrest at once.
Scheduled Court Appearance Following Arrest
Dugan is to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries at 10:30 a.m. on the day of her arrest. The hearing will occur on the courthouse’s second floor in downtown Milwaukee.
Staff in the courthouse were shocked by the arrest. Several Milwaukee County judges verified that the arrest occurred within the courthouse. Chief Judge Carl Ashley recognized the incident in an internal email sent to staff.
Online Post by FBI Director Causes Uproar
Within days of the arrest of Dugan, FBI Director Kash Patel spoke on X (formerly Twitter). In the since-removed tweet, Patel said Judge Dugan “knowingly misdirected federal authorities” to prevent Flores-Ruiz from being arrested.
The post caused an online commotion before it was removed. Patel’s remark labeled the defendant an “illegal alien” and labeled Dugan as an obstructor.
Flores-Ruiz is now reflected as in ICE custody at the Dodge Detention Facility in Juneau on the federal detainee locator.
Not the First ICE Incident at the Courthouse
This isn’t the first incident. Since the last two months, ICE agents have tried multiple arrests inside the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Two people were apparently arrested inside courthouse corridors during March and early April.
These recurring events have sparked fear among legal experts regarding the presence of immigration enforcement in state courthouse buildings.
Dugan’s purported act, if true, could be a sign of intensifying tensions between local judiciary agencies and federal immigration authorities.
Background of Judge Hannah Dugan
Judge Dugan was elected to the bench in 2016 after defeating a candidate who was appointed by then Republican Governor Scott Walker. She now sits in Branch 31 of the Circuit Court and handles mostly misdemeanor cases.
A seasoned attorney, Dugan has established a career based on community justice and equity. Her current term as a judge is to expire in 2028.
When called in her courtroom the day prior to her arrest, Dugan would not comment on the investigation.
A Unfolding Story With Legal Ramifications
In the middle of this case is the question: did a judge go too far to shelter a defendant from federal law enforcement?
Legal analysts disagree. Some say Dugan was within her authority to protect courtroom safety and due process. Others say her reported actions amount to obstruction of justice.
As the investigation unfolds, the legal community and public wait for answers. Judge Dugan’s future on the bench now remains uncertain.
This is a developing story. Updates are expected in the coming days.
