FBI arrests Milwaukee judge for obstructing immigration arrest at courthouse
Federal agents arrest Judge Dugan for interfering with detention of undocumented migrant, prompting investigation into judicial conduct.
IN OUR FAVOR. COMING UP IN WEATHERWATCH 12. I THANK YOU, MARK. THERE ARE QUESTIONS TONIGHT ASKING WHETHER A MILWAUKEE COUNTY JUDGE OBSTRUCTED JUSTICE BY SHIELDING A MAN FROM AN ICE ARREST AT THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED FRIDAY IN MISDEMEANOR COURT AND COULD MAKE THE JUDGE A TARGET OF A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION. NICK BOHR TONIGHT WITH THAT STORY. JUDGE HANNAH DUGGAN HAS BEEN ON THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY BENCH FOR NINE YEARS, BUT IS HERSELF UNDER SCRUTINY AFTER AN INCIDENT INVOLVING A MAN WANTED BY IMMIGRATION AGENTS OUTSIDE HER COURTROOM FRIDAY. ACCORDING TO A LAW ENFORCEMENT SOURCE, ICE AGENTS WERE WAITING OUTSIDE DUGGAN’S COURTROOM FOR A MAN MAKING A COURT APPEARANCE THERE. BUT DUGGAN IS ALLEGED TO HAVE SHIELDED HIM TO AVOID HIS ICE DETENTION. IN AN EMAIL TO OTHER JUDGES SHARED WITH 12 NEWS, CHIEF JUDGE CARL ASHLEY CONFIRMED THE PRESENCE OF ICE AGENTS FRIDAY, EXPLAINING THEY HAD A WARRANT AND WERE ASKED TO WAIT OUTSIDE THE COURTROOM. HOWEVER, ASHLEY SAID HE, QUOTE, HAD NO INFORMATION TO PROVIDE AS TO WHAT OCCURRED INSIDE JUDGE DUGGAN’S COURTROOM. I SPOKE WITH JUDGE DUGGAN OUTSIDE OF HER COURTROOM HERE THIS AFTERNOON. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE DID NOT WISH TO COMMENT AT THIS TIME, BUT THERE IS A SIGN TAPED TO HER COURTROOM DOOR THAT PREDATES THE FRIDAY INCIDENT, BUT SEEMS TO REFERENCE SOME OF THE SAME ISSUES. THE SIGN URGES ANY PERSON WHO, QUOTE, FEELS UNSAFE COMING TO THE COURTHOUSE TO CONTACT JUDGE DUGGAN’S CLARK TO REQUEST A REMOTE HEARING VIA ZOOM. IT STATED FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE FRIDAY INCIDENT. AN ICE SPOKESPERSON TOLD 12 NEWS TUESDAY MORNING THEY WOULD NOT CONFIRM THE INCIDENT. THEY ALSO WOULDN’T SAY WHETHER THE MAN IN QUESTION WAS ULTIMATELY DETAINED BY ICE AT THE MILWAUKE
FBI arrests Milwaukee judge for obstructing immigration arrest at courthouse
Federal agents arrest Judge Dugan for interfering with detention of undocumented migrant, prompting investigation into judicial conduct.
Updated: 9:44 AM CDT Apr 25, 2025
FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan on charges of obstruction after she allegedly interfered with a federal immigration arrest operation. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest, stating Judge Dugan misdirected agents from detaining Eduardo Flores Ruiz, an undocumented migrant, after a court appearance April 18.Multiple 12 News sources confirm the arrest happened Friday morning at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. According to reports, Ruiz managed to evade initial detention but was later apprehended after a foot pursuit. Federal agents claim the judge’s obstruction increased public safety risks.Judge Dugan has been on the bench for nine years, and the incident has drawn scrutiny and prompted an investigation.
MILWAUKEE —FBI agents arrested Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan on charges of obstruction after she allegedly interfered with a federal immigration arrest operation.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the arrest, stating Judge Dugan misdirected agents from detaining Eduardo Flores Ruiz, an undocumented migrant, after a court appearance April 18.
Multiple 12 News sources confirm the arrest happened Friday morning at the Milwaukee County Courthouse.
According to reports, Ruiz managed to evade initial detention but was later apprehended after a foot pursuit. Federal agents claim the judge’s obstruction increased public safety risks.
Judge Dugan has been on the bench for nine years, and the incident has drawn scrutiny and prompted an investigation.
