This excerpt is from a piece that originally ran on April 26, 2025.
Critics immediately condemned the arrest as a dangerous overreach and an assault on the separation of powers. Protesters gathered outside the federal courthouse in Milwaukee, chanting, “Free the judge now.” The Alliance for Justice called it an “unprecedented escalation,” stating, “The Trump administration has officially declared war on not just the courts as an institution, but individual judges he does not agree with.” Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin described the arrest as fitting a “deeply concerning pattern of this President’s lawless behavior and undermining courts.”
Legal analysts note that proving the “corrupt intent” required for an obstruction charge can be challenging. Former FBI special agent Asha Rangappa suggested that the arrest might be intended more “to send a message” and could potentially have a “chilling effect” on judges nationwide who navigate the complex intersection of state court proceedings and federal immigration enforcement.