Politics
WATCH: CNN Hosts Visibly Outraged After FBI Arrests Judge For ‘Hiding’ Illegal Alien
In an unprecedented move, the FBI arrested Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan on Friday for allegedly helping an illegal alien evade federal immigration authorities. The arrest, confirmed by both the FBI and the U.S. Marshal Service, immediately set off outrage from CNN anchors, who called the development “aggressive, dramatic, and significant.”
The arrest stems from an incident last week at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, where Judge Dugan is accused of intentionally misdirecting federal agents trying to detain Eduardo Flores Ruiz, an illegal immigrant wanted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
FBI Director Kash Patel, posting on X, wrote: “We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, allowing the subject — an illegal alien — to evade arrest. Thankfully, our agents chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since, but the Judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public.”
via X
Patel added that Judge Dugan now faces federal charges for obstruction and concealing an individual — serious felony counts that could carry steep penalties. The news broke live on CNN, where veteran anchor Wolf Blitzer turned to senior crime and justice correspondent Kaitlin Polantz for immediate reaction.
“This is something that we have certainly not seen before, but appears to be part of this aggressive approach the Trump administration has toward immigration,” said CNN’s Katelyn Polantz.
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Polantz noted that “it would be a startling development if this judge was arrested as she was working on the bench as a judge handling an immigration case or a case of a person that ICE was also interested in.”
Blitzer called it “very dramatic and significant indeed,” while noting the rarity of such an action.
The arrest underscores the Trump administration’s intensified crackdown on illegal immigration, particularly its efforts to hold local and state officials accountable when they obstruct federal enforcement operations. Under FBI Director Patel, the agency has adopted a far more aggressive approach to immigration-related law enforcement, signaling a sharp break from past practices.
This is now the second time a judge has been arrested under President Trump for aiding illegal immigrants. During Trump’s first term, Massachusetts Judge Shelley Joseph was charged with helping an illegal alien evade ICE — although the Biden administration later dropped the charges.
Separately, New Mexico Judge Joel Cano resigned last year after federal agents arrested a gang-linked illegal alien living on his family’s property. Cano is now permanently barred from serving in any judicial role. A recently unsealed court filing reportedly offers more detail about the latest charges, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws at every level – even when it involves members of the judiciary.
Trump’s administration has also tightened control over immigration courts, firing more than two dozen judges since February to accelerate deportations and cut down on asylum hearings. EOIR Acting Director Sirce Owen said the shakeup was necessary to restore accountability, ending what she described as excessive power long held by unelected administrative judges.
