Wisconsin judge charged with "obstructing" migrant detention

WashingtonA federal court in Wisconsin has formally charged Judge Hannah Dugan with concealing and obstructing the detention of a migrant in April. Last month, Dugan was arrested by the FBI on charges of "obstructing" the arrest of Eduardo Flores-Ruiz. This is another step in the Donald Trump administration's war on the authority of federal judges, when the courts are the main line of contention against the president's abuses of power.

The administration wants to turn Dugan's arrest into a warning to the other federal judges who are blocking the administration's executive actions. The executive branch has defended the accusation against the Wisconsin judge as a demonstration that "no one is above the law," while members of the Democratic Party and former judges have sounded the alarm over what they consider a clear attack on the judiciary.

The narrative the Trump administration is constructing around Dugan's case fits the narrative that the "will of the president" is the ultimate expression of a democratic system, when in reality, judges are there to ensure that the president's decisions comply with legal and constitutional frameworks.

While her case is pending, the Wisconsin Supreme Court has already temporarily removed Dugan from office. "Judge Dugan maintains her innocence and looks forward to being confirmed in court," he said Tuesday.

Court Arrests

On April 25, Dugan was arrested by the FBI on charges of "obstructing" the arrest of Flores-Ruiz, after confronting federal agents who showed up at the hearing she was holding with the man to detain him. Many judges have denounced that immigration agents (ICE) use court hearings to detain migrants. ICE not only shows up in court, but is also authorized to raid schools and churches. This is one of the first steps Trump took upon taking office to intensify the campaign of harassment against the migrant community.

Dugan has gone from being a local judge to becoming one of the Trump administration's main targets nationwide. Until now, the government's greatest intimidation of judges has been the president's posts calling for the impeachment Judge James Boasberg, who blocked the use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport migrants. Pam Bondi, calling Judge Dugan's arrest an attempt to intimidate the judiciary.