Legal representatives representing a producer from Chicago's WGN television station who was temporarily detained by federal agents last week describe the incident as "an occurrence that ought to alarm and horrify each individual in this country".
The journalist, a US citizen and WGN employee, was taken into custody on the weekend by federal agents during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement action in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Videos from the scene show Brockman being forced to the ground by two agents before she is handcuffed and put in a vehicle.
At the moment, a government spokesperson claimed that the individual "hurled items at an official vehicle" and was "detained for assault on a federal law enforcement officer".
Subsequently that day, WGN announced that their employee had been freed from detention and that no accusations had been filed against her.
In a news release issued by attorneys acting for Brockman on earlier this week, her legal team disputed the official version. They stated they "adamantly deny any allegation that she attacked anyone" and that "Brockman 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 arrest, Brockman was "not performing in any professional capacity as an employee for WGN" but that she was just "heading to the transit point as part of her morning commute when she was attacked by federal officers.
"Brockman, who is a American citizen born in this country, was forcibly held on Foster Avenue," the statement continues. "As this occurred, bystanders on the street began recording the event and inquired her her name."
The release indicates that she told the onlookers her name and that she worked at the station, in the hopes that "a person would notify her employer so colleagues would know that she would not be arriving at work that day", her lawyers stated.
Based on her legal team, Brockman was kept in federal custody for about several hours before being freed.
"The individual has not been charged with any offenses and she intends to explore all legal options available to her to uphold her entitlements and ensure government accountability for their actions," the release notes.
"One attorney, one of her attorneys, commented in the statement: "When armed, covered, government officers are taking US citizens off the street as they travel to work and throwing them in non-descript cars, you can only imagine what these officers must be willing to do to our foreign-born residents and people who dare to speak out against them."
"Ms Brockman was taken to the ground, battered, restrained, and her pants were pulled down exposing her uncovered skin," the lawyer said. "Not anyone should be treated like that in this city, in this nation or any other place in the globe."
ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and the border agency did not immediately respond to inquiries from the media.
Cybersecurity analyst with a passion for ethical hacking and educating others on digital safety.
