Senator Bernie Sanders led a chorus of progressive lawmakers condemning the Trump administration’s arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan, accusing the president of using the judiciary as a tool in his broader push for unchecked power.
Sanders, a Vermont independent, expressed outrage over the arrest of Dugan, a 65-year-old judge who faces felony charges for allegedly obstructing federal immigration agents attempting to arrest an undocumented immigrant in her courtroom.
In a statement issued Friday, Sanders argued that the arrest had little to do with immigration policy but was instead part of Trump’s larger effort to centralize authority and undermine democratic institutions.
“Let’s be clear. Trump’s arrest of Judge Dugan in Milwaukee has nothing to do with immigration. It has everything to do with his moving this country toward authoritarianism,” Sanders said. He went on to criticize the president for what he sees as an ongoing pattern of lawlessness, pointing to various actions taken by the administration that he believes violate the separation of powers and the Constitution.
“Trump continues to demonstrate that he does not believe in the Constitution, the separation of powers, or the rule of law,” Sanders said.
“He is suing media that he dislikes. He is attacking universities whose policies he disagrees with. He is intimidating major law firms who have opposed him. He is ignoring a 9-0 Supreme Court decision to bring Kilmar Abrego García back from El Salvador, where he was illegally sent. He is threatening to impeach judges who rule against him.”
The arrest of Judge Dugan, who is accused of helping the immigrant, Eduardo Flores Ruiz, evade capture by immigration authorities, has become a focal point in the broader debate over Trump’s immigration policies.
Dugan is charged with obstruction and concealing an individual from arrest after she allegedly directed Flores Ruiz, a Honduran national who had been deported in 2013 and reentered the country illegally, to exit the courthouse through a back door to avoid federal agents.
The incident occurred when Flores Ruiz, along with his mother and sister, appeared in Dugan’s courtroom for a regular immigration check-in. Federal immigration officials had learned of his presence and planned to arrest him.
However, according to court documents, Dugan allegedly prevented the agents from executing the arrest, leading to her subsequent arrest by the FBI. Dugan’s actions have sparked intense debate over the role of judges in immigration matters and the extent to which federal authorities can exert influence over the judicial process.
Sanders’ condemnation of the arrest is part of a broader progressive response to what many see as the Trump administration’s increasing willingness to use federal power to silence opposition and undermine democratic norms. The senator characterized the arrest as a direct attack on the judiciary, warning that it represents an effort by Trump to consolidate power in the executive branch and undermine any institution that stands in his way.
“Trump’s latest attack on the judiciary and Judge Dugan is about one thing—unchecked power,” Sanders asserted. “He will attack and undermine any institution that stands in his way. Trump continues to demonstrate that he does not believe in the Constitution, the separation of powers, or the rule of law. He simply wants more and more power for himself.”
Sanders also called on members of the Republican Party who still believe in the Constitution to stand up to Trump’s authoritarian tendencies. “It is time for my colleagues in the Republican Party who believe in the Constitution to stand up to his growing authoritarianism,” Sanders added.
His remarks reflect a growing divide within the Republican Party, with some lawmakers expressing concern about Trump’s disregard for established democratic norms.
Other progressive lawmakers also voiced their opposition to Dugan’s arrest, with Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey describing it as “a red alert moment” that should unite all Americans against such abuses of power. Rep. Mark Pocan, whose district includes Milwaukee, took to social media to condemn the arrest as an attempt to intimidate the independent judiciary.
"Judge Dugan's arrest is outrageous and a fear tactic to our independent judiciary," Pocan wrote on X. "Trump has always thought he was above the law, but now he's enabling his goons to push that limit as far as it can go. His reckless deportations and flaunting of the Constitution will fail."
Rep. Summer Lee from Pennsylvania echoed these sentiments, calling the arrest “the kind of crackdown you see in a police state.”
She warned that the actions taken by the Trump administration were characteristic of how dictatorships begin, stating, “This is how dictators take power. They manufacture crises, undermine our institutions, and erode our checks and balances. If they’ll come for one, they’ll come for all.”
Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Texas, a vocal critic of Trump’s approach to governance, described the arrest as part of the broader erosion of the rule of law under the current administration.
“Trump’s playbook is simple: punish anyone who stands in his way,” Crockett said. “This ain’t law and order—it's a rise of authoritarianism in real time,” she added, signaling a growing concern among progressives that Trump’s tactics will continue to undermine democratic institutions if left unchecked.
Rep. Gwen Moore of Wisconsin also expressed alarm over the arrest, calling it “shocking” and accusing the administration of using federal law enforcement as a political tool. Moore criticized the FBI for arresting a judge and said that such actions require a “high legal bar.”
She stated that she was “very alarmed at this increasingly lawless action of the Trump administration,” which she said, “has been defying courts and acting with disregard for the Constitution.” Moore’s concerns reflect broader fears that the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on immigration is undermining the rights of individuals and the independence of the judiciary.
Advocacy groups, including Voces de la Frontera, Milwaukee Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (MAARPR), and Milwaukee Turners, organized a protest on Friday afternoon in response to Dugan’s arrest.
MAARPR released a statement condemning the FBI’s actions, accusing FBI Director Kash Patel of “intentionally being public with his announcement and accusations” in order to bypass Dugan’s due process rights and prematurely label her as a criminal. The group also accused the FBI of trying to send a message to the public: “Either you play along with Trump’s agenda, or pay the consequences.”
In its statement, MAARPR argued that the arrest of Dugan was part of a broader pattern of government overreach and abuse of power, particularly by federal agencies such as ICE. The group noted that the FBI and other agencies have increasingly been involved in activities that violate the rights of individuals, especially immigrants, and have taken actions that create fear and distrust within communities.
"What happened to Dugan is not new," MAARPR said. "The FBI and other agencies have been emboldened in recent months, snatching people off the streets, separating families, terrorizing communities, breaking doors down of pro-Palestine activists, and contributing to the unjust deportation of immigrants who don't have criminal records."
The arrest of Judge Dugan has become a flashpoint in the ongoing debate over Trump’s immigration policies and the growing concern about the administration’s disregard for the rule of law. As the legal battle continues, the case is likely to become a key symbol in the fight against authoritarianism and the defense of judicial independence.
Progressive lawmakers and advocacy groups are rallying together to challenge what they view as a concerted effort by Trump to undermine democratic institutions, intimidate opponents, and centralize power in the executive branch.
The case of Judge Dugan is only the latest in a series of confrontations between the Trump administration and those who oppose its policies. As the legal and political battles continue to unfold, the broader question remains: will the American judiciary, along with other institutions, be able to withstand this growing assault on the Constitution and the separation of powers, or will the push for unchecked executive power prevail?
