Milwaukee’s courthouse buzzed with tension on April 25, 2025, after federal agents hauled away Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan in handcuffs—a first-of-its-kind move in the Trump administration’s aggressive push to tighten immigration enforcement. The FBI, led by Director Kash Patel, charged Dugan with obstructing an immigration arrest operation, a bold escalation that’s got judges, lawyers, and locals on edge.
The trouble started a week earlier, on April 18, when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents tried to nab an immigrant at Dugan’s courthouse. Details are murky, but court documents show Dugan allegedly stepped in, blocking the feds from making the arrest. Patel didn’t mince words, announcing the arrest himself and accusing the judge of deliberately thwarting federal law. It’s the first time the Justice Department has gone after a local official for meddling in Trump’s immigration sweep, and it’s sending shockwaves through the legal world.
Dugan, a Milwaukee County veteran on the bench, now faces federal charges that could carry serious prison time. Her arrest isn’t just a local scandal—it’s a signal. The Trump administration, now in its second term, has doubled down on deportations, leaning on wartime laws and executive orders to round up undocumented immigrants. Judges like Dugan, who’ve criticized ICE’s courthouse arrests for scaring off witnesses and victims, are caught in the crosshairs. Some jurisdictions, from San Francisco to Seattle, have pushed back, passing sanctuary laws to limit cooperation with federal agents. But Dugan’s arrest shows the feds aren’t playing nice anymore.
The incident has roots in a broader clash. On April 24, a federal judge blocked Trump from cutting funds to 16 sanctuary cities, calling it an overreach. Meanwhile, the administration’s been firing immigration judges and speeding up deportations, even as courts cry foul over due process. Dugan’s case, though, is a new frontier: a sitting judge, not just a city official, now faces the weight of federal prosecution.
Milwaukee’s legal community is reeling. Some call it a chilling warning to judges who dare challenge ICE. Others say Dugan crossed a line, interfering with lawful arrests. What’s clear is the date: April 25, 2025, when the FBI made its move. Dugan’s next court appearance is pending, and the nation’s watching.