Judges Are Slowing Down Trump’s Fascist Deportation Regime. Now He’s Arresting Them For It.
The FBI arrested a sitting judge in a Milwaukee County court in Wisconsin on Friday, claiming that she obstructed immigration enforcement agents from detaining an undocumented immigrant in her courtroom.
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan’s arrest is not only the latest escalation in Donald Trump’s fascist deportation program, it also marks the administration’s eagerness to take aim at any and all constraints on its power to act.
“We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse,” FBI director Kash Patel in a post on X. Patel added that Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents “chased down the perp on foot and he’s been in custody since.”
In the absence of opposition party challenges and disempowered labor, courts are one of the few sites of meaningful pushback on Trump’s agenda.
Archived version: https://archive.is/20250425202345/https://theintercept.com/2025/04/25/judge-arrest-trump-immigrants-deport/
Less and less land of the free, more and more home of the brave.
It’s over boys. It’s second amendment or nothing now.
This local judge appeared before a federal magistrate, and was released on her own recognizance, while the feds seek an indictment from a grand jury.
Judges, like anyone, are capable of committing crimes, and they should be held to account when they do.
Having said that, it seems that the facts alleged in this complaint may not really fit the charge of obstruction, but it’s not very clear one way or the other. On one hand, this judge allegedly directed ICE’s target to exit through a jury room after his court appearance before her. This avoided the trap that ICE had set up in the hallway. On the other hand, she arguably enjoys a high level of deference on how she manages the logistics of her courtroom (such as how various people enter and exit). ICE held an administrative warrant only, which arguably did not entitle them to enter the not-fully-public space of the courtroom (and indeed they did not attempt to). ICE ultimately did arrest their guy outside some 22 minutes later.
My prediction: Assuming this judge properly shuts up and lawyers up, this case quietly fizzles after a while. Of course, DOJ can still accomplish their goal of intimidating the judiciary.
I can tell you’ve got a very analytical mind, and you’re probably NeuroDiverse like all the rest of us here, but I think you’re wrong. The local judge is not gonna go down silently and neither should anyone in that God forsaken 50 state country.
These are all carefully orchestrated steps. Something they can misconstrue later and make sure people support the suspension of the judiciary, and the invoking of Martial law.
Where did they say the judge was going down? What are you disagreeing with?
My prediction: Assuming this judge properly shuts up and lawyers up, this case quietly fizzles after a while
Update: she was released. But it sent a clear message of where we are
America is done.
What makes this World News?
The rapid progression of American fascism affects and is of concern to the rest of the world. The USA is still threatening to seize my country, and in the meantime trying to destroy it. A story like this is important because it tells us the rule of law is faltering in the USA, so it’s less likely internal forces will put the brakes on an invasion.
I keep seeing this narrative that trump has threatened to invade Canada, but I can’t find a single source on that.
Edit: apparently the people of lemmy are only concerned about misinformation that doesn’t fit their personal narrative. By accepting any misinformation at all, this leaves you open to further manipulation. You’re pittiable creatures and just as dangerous as those you oppose.
“Can you say you wont use military force to obtain greenland, canada, and panama?” Trump-“no”. Magats will tell you hes trolling but the leader of the largest military on earth claiming he would use military force to take over other countries is concerning.
Because the press is complicit, they are intentionally avoiding that word. They usually say something like “annex” or something similarly soft and benign.
Except that’s not what’s being discussed. Attempting to forcefully “annex” a sovereign country already has a name, and that’s “invasion.”
The USA is still threatening to seize my country, and in the meantime trying to destroy it.
Well, get in line. It’s not the first time though, is it? It went ahead and destroyed multiple countries in the last decade and your country most likely supported and ignored it. So take some time to reflect how it led up to this point.
