Attorneys representing a journalist from the city of Chicago's local TV network who was temporarily detained by federal agents last week characterize the event as "an occurrence that ought to alarm and horrify every person in this country".
Details of the Detainment
Debbie Brockman, a American national and station staff member, was arrested on Friday by federal agents during an ICE action in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Footage from the scene depict the producer being forced to the ground by officers before she is handcuffed and placed in a vehicle.
At the moment, a homeland security official stated that Brockman "threw objects at border patrol's car" and was "placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer".
Subsequently that day, WGN confirmed that their employee had been released from federal custody and that no accusations had been pressed against her.
Attorney's Reaction
In a statement released by attorneys representing Brockman on Tuesday, her legal team disputed the official version. They declared they "strongly refute any allegation that she assaulted anyone" and that "She was the one who was physically attacked by officers on her way to work" on 10 October.
Her lawyers say that at the time of the detainment, Brockman was "not performing in any official role as an employee for the station" but that she was just "walking to the transit point 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 Foster Avenue," the release continues. "As this happened, individuals on the street began filming the event and asked Ms Brockman her name."
The statement indicates that she informed the bystanders her name and that she was employed at WGN, in the hopes that "someone would notify her workplace so colleagues would know that she would not be coming at work that day", her lawyers said.
Aftermath and Legal Action
Based on her legal team, Brockman was kept in federal custody for about seven hours before being freed.
"The individual has not been charged with any crimes and she plans to pursue all legal options available to her to vindicate her entitlements and ensure government accountability for their conduct," the release notes.
"Brad Thomson, one of her attorneys, commented in the release: "When armed, masked, federal agents are taking American nationals off the street as they travel to work and placing them in non-descript cars, you can only imagine what these officers must be willing to do to our immigrant neighbors and people who choose to speak out against them."
"The journalist was taken to the ground, struck, handcuffed, and her trousers were lowered exposing her bare buttocks," Thomson stated. "No one should be treated like that in this city, in this nation or anywhere else in the globe."
ICE, the federal agency, and the border agency did not immediately respond to inquiries from the media.
