US officials arrested a Wisconsin judge on Friday in what appeared to be a dispute between President Donald Trump's administration and local officials over immigration enforcement.

The development highlights a possible discord between the White House and courts over President Donald Trump's tough stance on immigration.

'Intentionally misdirected federal agents,' says FBI

"The FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction — after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week," FBI Director Kash Patel said on X, formerly Twitter.

"We believe Judge Dugan intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject to be arrested in her courthouse," Patel said, before adding that the "judge’s obstruction created increased danger to the public."

The FBI director who was appointed by Trump deleted his initial post on X, before later posting it again.

US Attorney General Pam Bondi also confirmed the arrest of Dugan "for allegedly helping an illegal alien avoid an arrest" by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, Bondi posted on X.

"No one is above the law," she added.

Judge Dugan's arrest highlights frictions between the Trump administration and the judiciary over the president's immigration crackdown.

The Justice Department has previously indicated it was going to clamp down on officials who hinder immigration enforcement efforts.