Judge Hannah Dugan arrested after allegedly helping undocumented immigrant evade capture

On April 25, 2025, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was arrested at the Milwaukee County Courthouse by federal authorities.

Dugan is under investigation for allegedly helping an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest after appearing in her courtroom on April 18, 2025. Federal authorities claim that Dugan obstructed an immigration arrest operation, allowing the individual to evade capture.

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The arrest of Judge Dugan: details and investigation

Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was apprehended at approximately 8 a.m., as part of an ongoing federal investigation for her alleged interference in an immigration enforcement action. U.S. Marshals Service's spokesperson, Brady McCarron, confirmed that Dugan is expected to appear in U.S. District Court on the same day as her arrest.

According to FBI Director Kash Patel, Dugan is accused of misleading federal agents away from their target, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, a Mexican immigrant facing misdemeanor battery charges.

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Who was Dugan allegedly helping?

While there has not been an official confirmation of the identity of the individual Judge Hannah Dugan was helping, Kash Patel's tweet seems to identify him as Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. He appeared at the courtroom for a pre-trial conference on April 18, facing charges for three counts of misdemeanor battery.

Sources seem to indicate that when officials came looking for Flores-Ruiz to Dugan's courtroom, she directed him and his attorney to a side door, which directed them down to a private hallway and into the public area on the 6th floor. Eduardo Flores-Ruiz was arrested April 18, and is currently listed as being in ICE custody at the Dodge Detention Facility.