A judge in Wisconsin is facing federal charges after she allegedly helped a previously deported illegal immigrant avoid arrest by federal immigration officers.

Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested Friday morning and charged with obstruction of an official proceeding, as well as concealing a person from discovery and arrest. According to a criminal complaint, Dugan reportedly helped Mexican national Eduardo Flores-Ruiz exit the courthouse through a restricted jury door to avoid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

I can confirm that our @FBI agents just arrested Hannah Dugan – a county judge in Milwaukee – for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest by @ICEgov.

No one is above the law.

— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) April 25, 2025

The incident took place after Flores-Ruiz appeared in court on April 18 to face three misdemeanor battery charges for allegedly assaulting two people. Following the hearing, instead of allowing federal officers to take him into custody, Dugan allegedly directed them to the chief judge’s office and then quietly escorted Flores-Ruiz out of a non-public exit with his attorney.

New video from our crews: Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan and her attorney leaving the federal courthouse in Milwaukee and not commenting. The FBI arrested her at the MKE Co Courthouse this morning. She's charged with 2 felonies for obstructing an ICE arrest last week pic.twitter.com/3YtgsNHTJl

— Matt Smith (@mattsmith_news) April 25, 2025

The FBI, ICE, CBP, and DEA were involved in the operation to detain Flores-Ruiz that day. When agents later approached him outside the courthouse, he fled on foot but was caught shortly afterward. Officials said he had been previously deported and had not received permission to re-enter the country, CNBC reports.

Federal prosecutors say the judge’s actions put the public at risk. “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,” wrote Kash Patel on X. “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.”

Just NOW, the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week.

We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be…

— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) April 25, 2025

Dugan appeared in federal court in Milwaukee on Friday. She did not make any public statements during the hearing. Her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, said, “Judge Dugan wholeheartedly regrets and protests her arrest. It was not made in the interest of public safety.” Her next court date is scheduled for May 15.

Earlier in the week, Dugan denied reports that she had intentionally protected Flores-Ruiz from immigration officers. In a written response to local media, she said, “Nearly every fact regarding the ‘tips’ in your email is inaccurate,” according to Fox.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, responded to the arrest by blaming the Trump administration for what he described as an attack on the courts. “I will continue to put my faith in our justice system as this situation plays out in the court of law,” he said, while accusing federal officials of targeting judges who don’t align with their agenda.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson also criticized federal authorities. In a press briefing Friday, he said the arrest of the judge would discourage people from participating in court proceedings. “They’re just trying to have this show of force… and that makes our community less safe,” Johnson said.

Pam Bondi, former Florida Attorney General, voiced outrage over the situation, saying “We could not believe that a judge really did that,” she said. “You cannot obstruct a criminal case. And really, shame on her. It was a domestic violence case of all cases, and she’s protecting a criminal defendant over victims of crime.”

Bondi described Flores-Ruiz as violent, saying, “[He] beat the guy, hit the guy 30 times, knocked him to the ground, choked him, beat up a woman so badly, they both had to go to the hospital.”