FBI arrests judge who obstructed arrest of Mexican migrant

U.S. federal police arrested a judge on Friday accused of obstructing the arrest of a Mexican migrant, in a new standoff between the White House and the courts over President Donald Trump's immigration policy.

Several federal and state judges have suspended some of Trump's actions, particularly those related to his attempt to exercise unprecedented powers to deport migrants.

His administration has faced challenges from justices, rights groups, and Democrats who say he has trampled on or ignored constitutionally enshrined rights by rushing to deport migrants, sometimes without the right to a hearing.

"Judge Dugan intentionally diverted the (immigration police) agents from the individual who was to be arrested (...) allowing the individual, an illegal immigrant, to evade arrest," FBI Director Kash Patel posted on his X network account.

"The FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on obstruction charges after evidence that she... obstructed an immigration arrest operation last week," he added.

He stated that the migrant was finally arrested after a foot chase.

"Fortunately, our officers pursued" the individual "and he has since been in custody, but the judge's obstruction increased the danger" to those present, he said. Minutes later, he deleted the message before reposting it.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed Dugan's arrest. "No one is above the law," Bondi posted on the social media platform X.

And he warned those who harbor illegal immigrants: "We will find them."

"We sent a very strong message today," Bondi told Fox News. "If you harbor a fugitive, we don't care who you are. If you help hide one... whoever is in this country illegally, we will pursue and prosecute you."

Court appearance

According to court documents, the judge was "visibly upset and had a confrontational and angry demeanor" when agents arrived to arrest Mexican migrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz last Friday.

The lawsuit alleges that Dugan led Flores-Ruiz out of the courtroom through a door used by jurors to keep him away from officers.

Dugan, elected to the bench in 2016, appeared before a U.S. judge Friday in federal court in downtown Milwaukee, where she did not comment publicly, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

According to the newspaper, her attorney, Craig Mastantuono, told the court: "Judge Dugan completely regrets and protests her arrest. It was not done in the interest of public safety."

The incident has sparked a barrage of criticism from Democrats and applause from some Republicans.

Democratic Representative Darren Soto called the arrest "typical of a dictator in a third-world country."

"Federal thugs"

Democratic National Committee Chairman Ken Martin said he was alarmed that Trump would order "his federal thugs to arrest a duly elected judge."

"Brick by brick, Trump is trying to dismantle our democracy," he said.

Several Republicans, however, were quick to come to Patel's defense.

"The corruption and determination of these anti-American activist judges to put illegal aliens before American citizens is appalling," said Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger.

On Thursday, a former New Mexico judge and his wife were taken into custody after federal agents raided their home for harboring an alleged illegal immigrant believed to be a member of the Venezuelan criminal gang Tren de Aragua, U.S. media reported.