MILWAUKEE — The U.S. Department of Justice Monday formally filed its federal criminal complaint against Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan after FBI agents arrested her at the courthouse Friday.
She faces charges related to an alleged obstruction of an immigration arrest.
In response Monday, several more community leaders and Democratic lawmakers came together at an event in Milwaukee to speak out against the charges she now faces.
“Trump’s favorite word might be tariffs, but my favorite words are due process,” State Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, said.
Carpenter said he feels that if arrests like this one can be made in Milwaukee, they will start happening across the U.S.
“If they can do it here on these Milwaukee court steps, they will do it in other places; it is all a matter of time,” Carpenter said.
State Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez, D-Milwaukee, said she feels Dugan’s arrest will deter other community members from coming to the courthouse.
“When victims of crimes don’t come to the court or report crime, it does not make us safer,” Ortiz-Velez said.
Ortiz-Velez said if the community does not fight for the Department of Justice to drop the federal charges filed against Dugan, she believes similar arrests will happen across the U.S.
“We are entering an era of federal administrative lawlessness and heightened fear in our communities,” Ortiz-Velez said.
For many community group leaders in attendance Monday, including the founder and president of Wisconsin Ukrainians, Halyna Salapata, Dugan is now seen as a true ally.
“Not once or twice, every time, she stood with us and stood for the values we share: Freedom, justice and democracy,” Salapata said.
Others, including Forward Latino’s national president, Darryl Morin, said if the charges stand, it will have a chilling impact on the Hispanic community.
“Forward Latino is confident that once all of the facts come forward, she will rightfully be exonerated of both charges,” Morin said.
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