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MILWAUKEE — On Friday, a notable event unfolded as the FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan of Milwaukee, who is accused of aiding an individual in evading immigration authorities. This incident underscores the growing friction between the judicial system and the Trump administration, particularly concerning the president’s stringent immigration policies.

FBI Director Kash Patel took to social media to state that Judge Dugan allegedly “deliberately misled” federal agents who were trying to apprehend a man at her courthouse the previous week.

“Fortunately, our agents chased the suspect on foot, and he has been in custody since then. However, the Judge’s interference increased the danger to public safety,” Patel remarked.

Dugan was apprehended by the FBI early Friday on the courthouse premises, as confirmed by U.S. Marshals Service spokesperson Brady McCarron. She had a brief appearance in federal court later that day before being released, with her next court appearance scheduled for May 15.

“Judge Dugan is deeply troubled by her arrest and disputes its legitimacy. It was not carried out in the interest of public safety,” her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, stated during the hearing. He declined to comment to an Associated Press reporter following the session.

Dugan is facing charges of “concealing an individual to hinder his discovery and arrest,” as well as obstructing or impeding a federal proceeding. According to the allegations, she helped the individual, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, and his attorney exit the courtroom via the jury door on April 18 to assist him in avoiding arrest, as detailed in an FBI affidavit submitted to the court.

The affidavit reveals that Dugan was informed of the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in the courthouse by her clerk, who had received a tip from an attorney about the agents waiting in the hallway.

According to the affidavit, Dugan was “visibly angry” upon the arrival of immigration agents and characterized the situation as “absurd” before she left her bench and retreated to her chambers. It also states that she and another judge later confronted members of the arrest team inside the courthouse, demonstrating what witnesses described as a “confrontational and angry demeanor.”

Dugan questioned whether the officers possessed a judicial warrant and was informed that it was an administrative warrant. After a back-and-forth discussion regarding the warrant’s validity, she insisted that the arrest team speak with the chief judge, leading them away from the courtroom.

Following her direction to the chief judge’s office, investigators claim Dugan returned to the courtroom and was heard saying something similar to “wait, come with me” as she guided Flores-Ruiz and his lawyer through a jury door into a non-public area of the courthouse. This action was deemed unusual since the affidavit notes that “only deputies, juries, court staff, and in-custody defendants escorted by deputies used the back jury door. Defense attorneys and defendants not in custody never utilized the jury door.”

Dugan’s arrest occurs amid a widening divide between the Trump administration and the judiciary regarding the president’s executive actions on immigration and other matters. Trump administration officials have sharply criticized what they label as “activist” judges, claiming they have exceeded their authority and improperly obstructed the president’s executive powers by blocking many of his initiatives.

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, referred to the arrest of a sitting judge as a “serious and drastic action” that “threatens to undermine” the separation of powers between the executive and judicial branches.

“Let there be no mistake, we do not have monarchs in this nation; we are a democracy governed by laws that must be upheld by everyone,” Baldwin stated in an email response. “By consistently attacking the judicial system, ignoring court orders, and arresting a sitting judge, this President endangers the fundamental democratic values that are cherished by the people of Wisconsin.”

This situation echoes a previous incident during the early days of the Trump administration, when a Massachusetts judge was accused of helping a man escape through a back door of a courthouse to avoid immigration enforcement agents waiting outside.

That prosecution sparked outrage among many in the legal community, who condemned it as politically motivated. Ultimately, the case against Newton District Judge Shelley Joseph was dropped in 2022 under the Biden administration after she agreed to refer herself to a state agency responsible for investigating allegations of judicial misconduct.

The Justice Department had previously signaled its intent to adopt a tougher stance against local officials who obstruct federal immigration efforts.

In January, the department instructed prosecutors to investigate any state and local officials who impede federal functions, potentially leading to criminal charges. The memo cited conspiracy offenses and a law prohibiting the harboring of individuals in the country illegally as possible avenues for prosecution.