By: TJVNews.com

In a case that is rapidly garnering national attention, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan has been arrested and charged with obstruction of an official proceeding after federal authorities allege she actively interfered with an attempt to arrest an undocumented immigrant in her courtroom. According to a report on Fox News, the arrest took place Friday morning following a multi-agency investigation that has stunned Wisconsin’s legal and law enforcement communities.

Fox News reported that the incident in question occurred on April 18, when federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the FBI, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) arrived at a Milwaukee courthouse to detain an undocumented male following his scheduled appearance in criminal court.

Citing federal law enforcement sources, the Fox News report stated that Judge Dugan allegedly intervened by instructing the federal agents to redirect themselves to the office of the chief judge—effectively removing them from the courtroom floor. During this maneuver, the undocumented individual was able to swiftly exit the premises, eluding federal custody.

These actions, according to federal investigators cited by Fox News, were not accidental or coincidental. Law enforcement officials believe Judge Dugan willfully obstructed the arrest, using her judicial authority to mislead agents and create an opportunity for the migrant to escape.

Judge Dugan was taken into custody by FBI agents on Friday morning and is expected to make her initial appearance in federal court in Milwaukee later the same day. The Fox News report emphasized that this development marks a rare and serious escalation in the ongoing tensions between local court systems and federal immigration enforcement agencies.

State Rep. Bob Donovan, a Republican legislator and longtime figure in Milwaukee politics, issued a scathing response to the allegations. In a statement shared with Fox News, Donovan said, “In all my years of Milwaukee politics and public safety issues, working with cops, district attorneys, and judges, I have never seen a more irresponsible act by an officer of the court, let alone a judge, if true.” He added that the alleged actions “border on obstruction of justice” and urged that, if the accusations are substantiated, prosecution should proceed to the “fullest extent of the law.”

Judge Dugan, who was elected to Branch 31 of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court in 2016 and reelected unopposed in 2022, is no stranger to public service. She has a long history of working with vulnerable populations, having previously served as executive director of Catholic Charities and with several legal aid organizations. Her docket has largely included misdemeanor cases.

Earlier this week, in response to growing rumors and early local reporting, Judge Dugan attempted to deflect the mounting scrutiny. As the Fox News report noted, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on her denial of the allegations in an email reply, where she wrote, “Nearly every fact regarding the ‘tips’ in your email is inaccurate.”

However, the credibility of her denial appears to be further eroded by the steady accumulation of investigative findings being reported by Fox News. Efforts by Fox News Digital to reach Judge Dugan for comment were unsuccessful. On Wednesday, a staffer from her office informed Fox that she was in court and would return the call. No further response was received by Thursday.

The courthouse where the incident took place has recently become the site of increased immigration enforcement activity. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, two individuals have been arrested by ICE officials in courthouse hallways in recent weeks. These developments suggest growing federal interest in conducting apprehensions in what have traditionally been considered sensitive or neutral spaces.

As Fox News noted, questions are being raised about judicial overreach, sanctuary policies, and the friction between state court jurisdictions and federal immigration enforcement. While some defenders of sanctuary ideals may rally to Judge Dugan’s side, the weight of federal charges and the rare nature of a judge being arrested by the FBI may turn this case into a flashpoint for national debate on immigration and the rule of law.

The investigation is ongoing, and Judge Dugan’s appearance in federal court is expected to provide the next chapter in what promises to be a contentious and politically charged legal battle.