Chicago Television Reporter's Arrest in ICE Raid Described as 'Disturbing and Horrifying', Attorneys State
Attorneys representing a producer from the city of Chicago's WGN television station who was temporarily detained by government officers last week describe the incident as "an occurrence that ought to alarm and horrify each individual in this country".
Particulars of the Arrest
The journalist, a US citizen and WGN employee, was arrested on the weekend by government officers during an ICE operation in a North Side Chicago area. Videos from the scene show Brockman being pushed down by officers before she is handcuffed and placed in a van.
At the time, a homeland security official stated that Brockman "hurled items at an official vehicle" and was "placed under arrest for attacking an officer".
Later on Friday, WGN confirmed that their employee had been freed from detention and that no accusations had been filed against her.
Legal Team's Response
In a statement released by attorneys representing the journalist on earlier this week, her representatives challenged the government's account. They declared they "strongly refute any allegation that she assaulted 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 explain that at the time of the detainment, Brockman was "not acting in any professional capacity as an employee for the station" but that she was just "heading to the transit point as part of her morning commute when she was attacked by federal officers.
"The individual, who is a American citizen born in this country, was forcibly held on a city street," the release continues. "As this occurred, individuals on the street began recording the incident and asked her her name."
The release indicates that she told the onlookers her name and that she was employed at the station, in the hopes that "someone would inform her employer so colleagues would know that she would not be coming at work that day", her attorneys said.
Consequences and Legal Action
Based on her lawyers, the journalist was kept in federal custody for about seven hours before being released.
"The individual has not been charged with any crimes and she plans to pursue all legal options available to her to uphold her rights and hold the federal authorities accountable for their actions," the statement notes.
"Brad Thomson, one of her attorneys, commented in the statement: "When armed, masked, federal agents are snatching US citizens off the street as they walk to work and placing them in unmarked vehicles, you can only conceive what these officers must be willing to do to our immigrant neighbors and individuals who dare to speak out against them."
"Ms Brockman was forced down, battered, restrained, and her trousers were lowered exposing her bare buttocks," Thomson stated. "No one should be treated like that in this metropolis, in this nation or any other place in the world."
Immigration authorities, the federal agency, and the border agency did not provide a prompt reply to inquiries from the media.
