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Legal representatives acting for a journalist from Chicago's WGN television station who was briefly held by government officers last week characterize the event as "an occurrence that ought to alarm and frighten every person in this nation".

Particulars of the Arrest

The journalist, a American national and station staff member, was taken into custody on Friday by government officers during an ICE action in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Videos from the scene show the producer being forced to the ground by two agents before she is restrained and placed in a vehicle.

At the time, a government spokesperson stated 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 confirmed that Brockman had been freed from detention and that no charges had been pressed against her.

Attorney's Response

In a statement issued by attorneys representing the journalist on earlier this week, her legal team challenged the official version. They declared 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 the date in question.

Her lawyers say that at the moment of the detainment, the journalist was "not acting in any professional capacity as an employee for the station" but that she was just "walking to the transit point as part of her morning commute 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 statement continues. "As this occurred, individuals on the street began filming the event and inquired her her name."

The statement indicates that she informed the onlookers her name and that she worked at WGN, in the hopes that "a person would inform her employer so coworkers would know that she would not be arriving at work that day", her attorneys said.

Aftermath and Legal Action

According to her legal team, the journalist was held in government detention for about seven hours before being released.

"She has not been charged with any crimes and she intends to explore all legal options available to her to uphold her rights and ensure government accountability for their actions," the statement notes.

"Brad Thomson, a legal representative, commented in the statement: "If armed, masked, government officers are snatching American nationals off the street as they walk to work and throwing them in non-descript cars, you can only conceive what these agents must be prepared to do to our immigrant neighbors and individuals who dare to speak out against them."

"Ms Brockman was taken to the ground, battered, handcuffed, and her trousers were lowered exposing her bare buttocks," the lawyer said. "Not anyone should be treated like that in this metropolis, in this country or any other place in the globe."

Immigration authorities, the federal agency, and the US Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to inquiries from news outlets.