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.

  • mkwt@lemmy.world
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    3 days ago

    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.

    • kingofras@lemmy.worldOP
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      3 days ago

      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.

      • zulfiqaramerBanned
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        1 day ago

        and you’re probably NeuroDiverse like all the rest of us here

        Wtf…?

        • kingofras@lemmy.worldOP
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          2 days ago

          My prediction: Assuming this judge properly shuts up and lawyers up, this case quietly fizzles after a while

          • workerONE@lemmy.world
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            2 days ago

            They’re not saying the judge will go down silently. They’re saying the judge will win and nothing will come of it.

              • agamemnonymous@sh.itjust.works
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                19 hours ago

                As in “Employs the recommended legal strategy of not saying anything while her lawyers do their job, in order to avoid incrimination.” The smartest thing you can say while embroiled in legal trouble is absolutely nothing, that’s what your lawyer is for.

      • FistingEnthusiast@lemmynsfw.com
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        3 days ago

        I’m lucky enough not to live in America

        I can’t fight their battles for them, and too many Americans are perfectly happy with their country going down the shitter, and a horrifyingly large number seem to be apathetic about it

        • zulfiqaramerBanned
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          1 day ago

          The problem is it’s a two-pronged strategy.

          The lesser-evil constantly uses the greater-evil as an excuse to not be good.

          At this point, I just lump everyone who voted against Bernie in the primaries with trump supporters. They’re two halves of the same shitcoin trying to focus on culture war bullshit to distract from the class war.

          Essentially, both sides reward us for succumbing to hysteria and punish us for going against it. They don’t want rational minds because rational people will recognize how they’re being manipulated to fight a culture war.

    • floofloof@lemmy.ca
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      3 days ago

      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.

      • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
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        13 hours ago

        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.

        • uselessRN@lemm.ee
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          1 day ago

          “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.

          • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
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            21 hours ago

            That isn’t what was said, wtf? You added Canada in there. You clowns are full on hysterical. You’re exactly the same as right wing looney tunes. Idk why ya’ll are so dead set on spreading misinformation and made up bullshit when there is plenty of actual problems and critiques of this man and his administration. Fully through the looking glass here.

            • uselessRN@lemm.ee
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              2 hours ago

              When asked if the leader of the greatest military force on the planet would use said military to take over other countries he said yes. Multiple times. He’s said he’s serious about taking Canada one way or another. The only clown is people that believe a word he says. This isn’t even a right vs left thing. You wrongly labelled me a leftist. I’m a registered Republican. Always have been. Trump is a liar who does not stand for American ideals, the constitution, or our allies. It should never even be insinuated that military force be used on our allies. That’s the difference between us. You excuse this behavior. I don’t.

        • Nollij@sopuli.xyz
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          2 days ago

          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.”

          • Letstakealook@lemm.ee
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            2 days ago

            It isn’t implied at all. Even the Wikipedia page states he specifically ruled out military force. This is hysterics and misinformation. He does enough bullshit that people don’t need to make shit up. The media frequently reports what he says verbatim, and he often makes statements on the internet that are forever. At no point has he threatened an invasion of Canada.

                • theluckyone@discuss.online
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                  1 day ago

                  One “No”. Trump flip flops worse on “No” worse than a pendulum in an earthquake… Just look at his tariff statements.

                  And you’d have us believe his “No” to military action in Canada is immutable? A fool is a fool.

                • uselessRN@lemm.ee
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                  1 day ago

                  You must be a fool then. You asked for sources, were given sources, and chose not to believe them.

      • 0_o7@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        2 days ago

        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.

    • lurch (he/him)@sh.itjust.works
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      3 days ago

      Well, first of all, it didn’t happen in space.

      It’s another bad sign for neighbouring and allied countries, because harassing judges can lead to hostile conditions with show trials and all. At some point you have to expect civil war and refugees.