In an unprecedented escalation of authoritarian tactics, the Trump administration’s FBI arrested a sitting Wisconsin judge, sending shockwaves through the legal community and raising alarms about the future of judicial independence under a second Trump term.
Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, a widely respected jurist known for her integrity and commitment to due process, was arrested Friday by federal agents and charged with obstruction and concealing an undocumented immigrant. According to a statement by FBI Director Kash Patel—posted and quickly deleted on social media—Judge Dugan was accused of helping an undocumented man avoid arrest by allegedly allowing him to remain in her chambers during a scheduled Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pickup.
“We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse… allowing the subject—an illegal alien—to evade arrest,” Patel wrote in the now-deleted post. “Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot.”
The language used by Patel—referring to the immigrant as a “perp” and gloating about a foot chase—was widely condemned, not just for its unprofessional tone but for what it represents: a dangerous politicization of law enforcement under Trump’s Department of Justice.
Judge Dugan, who made no public comment during a brief appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Dries, was reportedly taken into custody without prior notice. Her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, called the arrest unjustified and politically motivated.
“This arrest was not made in the interest of public safety—it was an act of intimidation,” Mastantuono said in court. “Judge Dugan regrets the arrest deeply and stands by her actions, which were rooted in constitutional protections and the rule of law.”
Wisconsin state Rep. Ryan Clancy (D-19) defended Judge Dugan’s actions, citing multiple eyewitnesses who said ICE agents failed to present a judicial warrant before attempting to apprehend the immigrant.
“I commend Judge Hannah Dugan for upholding due process and resisting ICE’s shameful tactic of using courtrooms as hunting grounds for deportation,” Clancy said. “We cannot maintain a functioning democracy if our courts are weaponized against the very people they are supposed to protect.”
Prominent legal figures have also come to Dugan’s defense. Veteran Milwaukee defense attorney Franklyn Gimbel called the arrest “outrageous” and “unprecedented.”
“Judge Dugan is not a flight risk. She’s a respected figure in our community. This was political theater, not justice,” Gimbel said. “This is not how the U.S. justice system is supposed to operate.”
Julius Kim, another Milwaukee-based attorney, added on social media: “Practicing here for decades, I can say without hesitation—Judge Dugan is a good and fair judge. What’s happening is a collision course between Trump’s lawless regime and our judiciary. This is the weaponization of the DOJ, plain and simple.”
Advocacy groups were quick to respond. The National Women’s Law Center issued a blistering statement condemning the arrest.
“This is not just an attack on one judge—it is part of a broader assault on democracy,” said NWLC Director of Nominations and Democracy Alison Gill. “The Trump administration is openly targeting members of the judiciary to consolidate power and silence dissent.”
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) echoed those concerns in a statement on Bluesky: “The Trump administration has arrested a sitting judge in Milwaukee. This is a red-alert moment. If we don’t rise up now to defend our democratic institutions, there may be nothing left to defend.”
As this deeply disturbing story continues to unfold, one thing is clear: Trump’s America is a place where even judges are not safe if they dare to uphold the law over his political agenda.
