Chicago TV Journalist's Detainment in Immigration Operation Described as 'Disturbing and Terrifying', Attorneys State
Legal representatives representing a producer from the city of Chicago's local TV network who was briefly held by federal agents last week describe the event as "an occurrence that ought to concern and frighten every person in this nation".
Details of the Arrest
The journalist, a US citizen and WGN employee, was taken into custody on Friday by government officers during an ICE operation in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Videos from the location show the producer being forced to the ground by officers before she is restrained and put in a van.
At the time, a government spokesperson claimed that the individual "threw objects at border patrol's car" and was "placed under arrest for attacking an officer".
Later on Friday, the television station announced that their employee had been released from federal custody and that no accusations had been pressed against her.
Legal Team's Reaction
In a statement issued by lawyers representing the journalist on earlier this week, her legal team disputed the official version. They declared they "strongly refute any allegation that she attacked anyone" and that "Brockman was the one who was violently assaulted by officers on her way to work" on the date in question.
Her lawyers say that at the moment of the arrest, the journalist was "not acting in any professional capacity as an staff member for WGN" but that she was just "heading to the bus stop as part of her daily travel when she was attacked by federal officers.
"The individual, who is a US Citizen born in this country, was forcibly held on a city street," the release adds. "As this happened, bystanders on the street began recording the incident and inquired her her name."
The release indicates that she informed the bystanders her name and that she worked at WGN, in the hopes that "someone would inform her workplace so colleagues would know that she would not be arriving at work that day", her attorneys stated.
Consequences and Next Steps
Based on her lawyers, Brockman was kept in federal custody for about several hours before being released.
"She has not been charged with any crimes and she plans to pursue all legal options open to her to uphold her entitlements and ensure government accountability for their actions," the statement notes.
"One attorney, one of her attorneys, added in the statement: "When armed, masked, government officers are taking American nationals off the street as they travel to work and throwing them in non-descript cars, you can only imagine what these agents must be willing to do to our immigrant neighbors and people who choose to protest against them."
"The journalist was taken to the ground, battered, restrained, and her trousers were pulled down exposing her bare buttocks," Thomson stated. "Not anyone should be treated like that in this metropolis, in this country or any other place in the globe."
ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and the border agency did not provide a prompt reply to inquiries from the media.