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Legal representatives representing a journalist from Chicago's WGN television station who was briefly held 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

Debbie Brockman, a US citizen and station staff member, was taken into custody on the weekend by federal agents during an ICE action in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Footage from the location show Brockman being pushed down by two agents before she is restrained and placed in a vehicle.

At the moment, a government spokesperson stated that Brockman "hurled items at an official vehicle" and was "detained for assault on a federal law enforcement officer".

Later on Friday, WGN confirmed that their employee had been freed from detention and that no accusations had been filed against her.

Attorney's Response

In a news release released by lawyers representing the journalist on earlier this week, her legal team challenged the official version. They stated they "strongly refute any claim that she assaulted anyone" and that "She was the one who was violently assaulted by federal agents on her way to work" on 10 October.

Her attorneys say that at the time of the detainment, Brockman was "not acting in any professional capacity as an employee for WGN" but that she was just "heading to the transit point as part of her daily travel when she was confronted by Border Patrol agents.

"Brockman, who is a US Citizen born in this country, was forcibly held on Foster Avenue," the release adds. "As this happened, bystanders on the street began filming the incident and inquired Ms Brockman her name."

The statement says that she informed the bystanders her name and that she worked at the station, in the hopes that "someone would inform her workplace so coworkers would know that she would not be arriving at work that day", her lawyers said.

Aftermath and Next Steps

Based on her lawyers, Brockman was held in federal custody for about several hours before being released.

"She has not been charged with any crimes and she intends to explore all legal options open to her to vindicate her entitlements and hold the federal authorities accountable for their actions," the statement adds.

"Brad Thomson, one of her attorneys, added in the release: "When armed, covered, federal agents are snatching US citizens 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 foreign-born residents and individuals who dare to protest against them."

"Ms Brockman was forced down, struck, handcuffed, and her trousers were pulled down exposing her bare buttocks," the lawyer said. "No one should be treated like that in this city, in this country or any other place in the globe."

ICE, the Department of Homeland Security, and the border agency did not immediately respond to requests for comment from news outlets.