A Milwaukee County Circuit Judge faces federal charges in an intensifying debate over immigration enforcement in courthouses.
According to ABC News, Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested by FBI agents on Friday for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid federal authorities, while former New Mexico Judge Joel Cano and his wife were also arrested for harboring a Venezuelan national with alleged gang connections.
The arrests have sparked controversy, with Attorney General Pam Bondi defending the actions against criticism from Democratic leaders who view them as intimidation tactics. FBI Director Kash Patel announced Dugan's arrest through social media, stating she intentionally misdirected federal agents attempting to apprehend Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, an undocumented immigrant facing domestic abuse charges.
Dugan faces two criminal counts related to impeding federal proceedings and concealing an individual from arrest. The criminal complaint alleges she became visibly angry upon learning ICE officers were present to arrest Flores-Ruiz during his April 18 court appearance.
Prosecutors claim Dugan deliberately misled the arrest team by directing them to the chief judge's office while escorting Flores-Ruiz through a private courthouse exit. The suspect later fled from agents before being apprehended outside the building.
Attorney General Bondi provided her perspective on the case:
Nobody is above the law, not even a judge. They didn't get it because she let a criminal defendant walk out a door. She helped them. She obstructed justice.
In a related case, former New Mexico Judge Joel Cano and his wife Nancy were arrested for allegedly housing a Venezuelan national linked to the Tren de Aragua gang. Court documents reveal Cano admitted to destroying the suspect's cell phone to eliminate potentially incriminating evidence.
The arrests have drawn sharp criticism from local officials. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson accused federal agents of "showboating," while Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers condemned what he called attempts to undermine the judiciary.
When pressed about accusations of intimidation, Bondi maintained the focus was on public safety rather than targeting judges. She emphasized the violent nature of the crimes allegedly committed by the immigrants involved in both cases.
If convicted, Judge Dugan could receive up to six years in prison for the federal charges. She has retained former U.S. Attorney Steven Biskupic as counsel and plans to "defend herself vigorously," according to a statement.
The Canos have not yet entered pleas or secured legal representation. Their case particularly concerns authorities due to the alleged gang connections of the immigrant they reportedly harbored.
AG Bondi reinforced the administration's stance on immigration enforcement:
Those are the people that have to be arrested and taken out of our country. Doesn't matter who you are, no one can harbor them, not even a judge.
Judge Hannah Dugan and former Judge Joel Cano face serious federal charges for allegedly assisting undocumented immigrants evade arrest in separate incidents in Milwaukee and New Mexico. The cases highlight escalating tensions between immigration enforcement policies and the judicial system, with Democratic leaders viewing the arrests as potential intimidation while federal authorities maintain their commitment to enforcing immigration laws regardless of the suspects' positions. The developments have sparked heated debate about courthouse arrests and the role of judges in immigration proceedings.
