Border Patrol agents in Chicago triggered outrage on Friday after they wrestled WGN News video producer Debbie Brockman to the ground and arrested her, for what appeared to be no reason other than filming federal agents carrying out another arrest.
The video, which has made the rounds on social media, including Facebook and X, was met with widespread legal criticism, with some experts pointing out that it appeared to be in direct violation of a court order limiting arrests of nonviolent protesters and reporters, and could lead to a contempt of court finding against agents.
According to Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin, there was a good reason for the arrest, and it wasn't just because Brockman was filming agents.
"She was arrested for throwing objects at law enforcement," McLaughlin posted to X.
But that explanation had a massive hole in it, Lawfare's Anna Bower quickly pointed out in a reply.
"The woman’s employer [WGN News] reports that she was released without being charged with a crime," wrote Bower. "If she threw objects at federal officers, as you claim she did, why wasn’t she charged?"
This new incident comes as President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement policies have faced mounting criticism for both their perceived brutality and lack of proper legal process.
Another Chicago incident earlier this year, which resulted in Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents fatally shooting 38-year-old family man Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, was justified by DHS, claiming the suspect drove his car at officers, seriously injuring one. Body camera footage contradicted that description of events.
