https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/chicago-ice-jb-pritzker-trump-stephen-miller-rcna238264
A video editor and producer for Chicago’s WGN television station was arrested by masked federal agents on Friday morning, and later released, during an Ice raid on the city’s North Side, as shown in videos shared widely on social media.
Videos show Debbie Brockman being violently forced to the ground by two agents before she is handcuffed and put in a van. A local resident filming the incident asks her name while she is face down on the street being handcuffed.
“Debbie Brockman,” she replies. “I work for WGN. Please let them know.”
In another video, onlookers shout at the agents and call them “fascists”, telling them to “get out of our neighborhood, get out of our city”. The agents get in the van and scrape the side of another car, whose driver is still inside, as they speed off, tearing off part of its bumper.
A homeland security official said Brockman stood accused of assaulting a federal law enforcement officer by throwing objects at a vehicle.
The incident took place in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood, as immigration agents – at the behest of Trump officials – have been scouring the city for people to deport.
The ramped-up immigration enforcement in Chicago has been met with protests.
Local resident Nancy Molden told the Chicago Sun-Times that “it was absolutely horrifying” to see Brockman’s arrest in person.
“That was the most frightening thing I have seen in Chicago, living here 20-odd years,” Molden said.
Witnesses told local media the agents were targeting a small group of landscapers, though that was not immediately confirmed. A second person, a man, also appeared to have been detained.
In one video, the man can be seen handcuffed in the back of the vehicle while Brockman is being arrested. The person filming asks him in Spanish for his name.
Tricia McLaughlin of the homeland security department said: “US border patrol was conducting immigration enforcement operations and when several violent agitators used their vehicles to block in agents in an effort to impede and assault federal officers.
“In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening. As agents were driving, Deborah Brockman, a US citizen, threw objects at border patrol’s car, and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.”
WGN said that border patrol had released the employee from federal custody as of 3pm on Friday, and no charges have been filed in her case. The network is still in the process of searching for and obtaining video showing the moment leading up to the employee’s detainment.
Brockman’s arrest came days after prosecutors were forced to drop charges against anti-Ice protesters accused of assaulting federal agents while carrying weapons outside a Chicago immigration detention facility – with the move coming after grand jurors refused to hand down an indictment in the case.
On Thursday, a federal judge in Chicago issued a temporary restraining order blocking federal agents from using certain forceful tactics to suppress protests or to impede journalists from covering those protests.
The order restricts federal officials from arresting, threatening to arrest or deploying physical force against journalists unless authorities have established probable cause to believe the journalists have committed a crime.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/10/chicago-ice-raid-arrest
A legal analyst has warned that the arrest of a Chicago TV producer by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents on Friday could have been a direct violation of a recent court order in the city.
Debbie Brockman, a producer for Chicago television station WGN-TV, was apprehended by border patrol agents in a residential area of the city on Friday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed her arrest in a statement to Newsweek stating that she “was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.” As did WGN though it mentioned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) instead. WGN added no charges were filed were filed against Brockman.
For the senior writer covering the courts for Slate, Mark Joseph Stern, her arrest “appears to be in direct violation of a temporary restraining order prohibiting DHS officers from arresting journalists.” The officers who arrested, he wrote on Bluesky, “may well be subject to contempt of court.”
Why It Matters
Immigration agents, under the direction of the Donald Trump administration, have been scouring the streets of Chicago for illegal immigrants to deport, sparking protests across the city.
On Thursday, a federal judge in Chicago issued a temporary restraining order banning federal agents from using riot control weapons and other force against protesters and journalists covering demonstrations, who are not posing a threat to law enforcement.
The order from District Judge Sara Ellis also forbids agents from arresting, threatening to arrest, or deploying physical force against journalists unless they have established probable cause that they have committed a crime.
What To Know
Videos circulating on social media show a woman, who later identifies herself as Debbie Brockman, being held to the ground by masked officers before being handcuffed and loaded into a silver van. In some of the videos, onlookers can be heard calling the agents “fascists” and telling them to “get out of our neighborhood, get out of our city”.
According to what witnesses told WGN, another person had been arrested in the Lincoln’s Square neighborhood before the journalist and was already in the federal agents’ van when Brockman was put into it. Residents said that immigration agents seemed to be targeting men working on a nearby property. Brockman, according to her employer, is a U.S. citizen.
Stern shared on Bluesky a screenshot of the temporary restraining order’s text, which reads: “It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants, their officers, agents, assigns and all other persons acting in concert with them (hereafter referred to as ‘Federal Agents’), are temporarily EN/joined in this judicial district from: a. Dispersing, arresting, threatening to arrest, threatening or using physical force against any person who they know or reasonably should know is a journalist, unless defendants have probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime.”
At time of writing, Newsweek has found no video evidence, released by the DHS or other sources, showing Brockman assaulting federal agents.
What People Are Saying
Tricia McLaughlin, who oversees the DHS’s public outreach, said of the arrest in a statement provided to Newsweek: “U.S. border patrol was conducting immigration enforcement operations and when several violent agitators used their vehicles to block in agents in an effort to impede and assault federal officers.
“In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening. As agents were driving, Deborah Brockman, a US citizen, threw objects at border patrol’s car, and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. These attacks highlight the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily—all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”
In a statement to Newsweek, WGN said: “A WGN-TV creative services employee was detained by ICE. She has since been released, and no charges were filed against her. Out of respect for her privacy, we will have no further statements about this incident.”
Josh Thomas, a resident of the area where Brockman was arrested, the Lincoln’s Square neighborhood, told WGN: “I heard yelling and screaming and honking. I ran downstairs to see what was going on. It looked like Border Patrol agents in a minivan had slammed some lady to the ground. And so, I ran up to her and asked her for her name. She said she was a WGN employee.”
Resident Giordana Mahn told WGN: “I’m scared for my community. I’m scared for anyone who is Black or brown. You’ll see in the video, the [WGN employee] wasn’t Black or brown […] they are terrorizing anyone. Everyone in Chicago.”
What Happens Next
According to WGN, Brockman was released from federal custody at 3 p.m. on Friday, local time, and no charges were filed against her. As of 6 p.m. on Friday, the TV station said, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney in Chicago had confirmed no charges had been filed in Brockman’s case.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson ordered the removal of police tape near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility this week despite the federal government’s call for the establishment of a perimeter around the ICE location, according to a report on oregonlive.com.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited the ICE facility on Tuesday and Portland Police Bureau Chief Bob Day noted that authorities had the vicinity cordoned off for the occasion.
But the perimeter was removed on Wednesday, according to the report.
According to the City of Portland, a message to Day from U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon Scott Bradford stated, in part, that “all federal officers must be able to come and go from the ICE office without harassment or hindrance” and that “Portland must create a perimeter around the ICE office.” He specified that this “perimeter must be at least as large as the perimeter state and local police set up today for the Secretary’s visit.”
The city also indicated that in a message to General Counsel for DHS James Percival, Mayor Wilson noted, in part, “You have requested that federal officers be able to ingress and egress from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility without hindrance. The Mayor and our local public safety professionals will continue to evaluate the situation on the ground, and they will continue to make public order decisions based on what they believe will be in the best interest of Portland and our community.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon on Friday and to the City of Portland to request comments from Bradford and Wilson, respectively.
Last month, President Donald Trump called for deploying National Guard troops into Portland, but his plan has been stymied amid legal wranglings.
“At the request of Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, I am directing Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, to provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland, and any of our ICE Facilities under siege from attack by Antifa, and other domestic terrorists. I am also authorizing Full Force, if necessary,” he declared in a September Truth Social post.
A legal analyst has warned that the arrest of a Chicago TV producer by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents on Friday could have been a direct violation of a recent court order in the city.
Debbie Brockman, a producer for Chicago television station WGN-TV, was apprehended by border patrol agents in a residential area of the city on Friday.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed her arrest in a statement to Newsweek stating that she “was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.” As did WGN though it mentioned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) instead. WGN added no charges were filed were filed against Brockman.
For the senior writer covering the courts for Slate, Mark Joseph Stern, her arrest “appears to be in direct violation of a temporary restraining order prohibiting DHS officers from arresting journalists.” The officers who arrested, he wrote on Bluesky, “may well be subject to contempt of court.”
Why It Matters
Immigration agents, under the direction of the Donald Trump administration, have been scouring the streets of Chicago for illegal immigrants to deport, sparking protests across the city.
On Thursday, a federal judge in Chicago issued a temporary restraining order banning federal agents from using riot control weapons and other force against protesters and journalists covering demonstrations, who are not posing a threat to law enforcement.
The order from District Judge Sara Ellis also forbids agents from arresting, threatening to arrest, or deploying physical force against journalists unless they have established probable cause that they have committed a crime.
What To Know
Videos circulating on social media show a woman, who later identifies herself as Debbie Brockman, being held to the ground by masked officers before being handcuffed and loaded into a silver van. In some of the videos, onlookers can be heard calling the agents “fascists” and telling them to “get out of our neighborhood, get out of our city”.
According to what witnesses told WGN, another person had been arrested in the Lincoln’s Square neighborhood before the journalist and was already in the federal agents’ van when Brockman was put into it. Residents said that immigration agents seemed to be targeting men working on a nearby property. Brockman, according to her employer, is a U.S. citizen.
Stern shared on Bluesky a screenshot of the temporary restraining order’s text, which reads: “It is hereby ORDERED that Defendants, their officers, agents, assigns and all other persons acting in concert with them (hereafter referred to as ‘Federal Agents’), are temporarily EN/joined in this judicial district from: a. Dispersing, arresting, threatening to arrest, threatening or using physical force against any person who they know or reasonably should know is a journalist, unless defendants have probable cause to believe that the individual has committed a crime.”
At time of writing, Newsweek has found no video evidence, released by the DHS or other sources, showing Brockman assaulting federal agents.
What People Are Saying
Tricia McLaughlin, who oversees the DHS’s public outreach, said of the arrest in a statement provided to Newsweek: “U.S. border patrol was conducting immigration enforcement operations and when several violent agitators used their vehicles to block in agents in an effort to impede and assault federal officers.
“In fear of public safety and of law enforcement, officers used their service vehicle to strike a suspect’s vehicle and create an opening. As agents were driving, Deborah Brockman, a US citizen, threw objects at border patrol’s car, and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
“This incident is not isolated and reflects a growing and dangerous trend of illegal aliens violently resisting arrest and agitators and criminals ramming cars into our law enforcement officers. These attacks highlight the dangers our law enforcement officers face daily—all while receiving no pay thanks to the Democrats’ government shutdown.”
In a statement to Newsweek, WGN said: “A WGN-TV creative services employee was detained by ICE. She has since been released, and no charges were filed against her. Out of respect for her privacy, we will have no further statements about this incident.”
Josh Thomas, a resident of the area where Brockman was arrested, the Lincoln’s Square neighborhood, told WGN: “I heard yelling and screaming and honking. I ran downstairs to see what was going on. It looked like Border Patrol agents in a minivan had slammed some lady to the ground. And so, I ran up to her and asked her for her name. She said she was a WGN employee.”
Resident Giordana Mahn told WGN: “I’m scared for my community. I’m scared for anyone who is Black or brown. You’ll see in the video, the [WGN employee] wasn’t Black or brown […] they are terrorizing anyone. Everyone in Chicago.”
What Happens Next
According to WGN, Brockman was released from federal custody at 3 p.m. on Friday, local time, and no charges were filed against her. As of 6 p.m. on Friday, the TV station said, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney in Chicago had confirmed no charges had been filed in Brockman’s case.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem participated in an enforcement operation in Illinois, leading to multiple detentions and arrests related to Operation Midway Blitz. Advocates argued the operations could unfairly target U.S. citizens and impact mixed-status families. DHS has confirmed the five arrests.
Noem said, “President Trump has been clear: if politicians will not put the safety of their citizens first, this administration will.” She added, “Just this morning, DHS took violent offenders off the streets with arrests for assault, DUI, and felony stalking. Our work is only beginning.”
DHS said those arrested were undocumented with prior convictions, including DUI with a child passenger and violent assault. Two U.S. citizens were briefly detained for safety and released.
Officials said the operation targeted noncitizens with criminal histories in Chicago over several weeks. Video shared by Noem showed agents escorting handcuffed individuals.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said, “On August 28, ICE arrested Nathaniel Rojas, a criminal alien from the Dominican Republic. His criminal history includes convictions for felony grand larceny, felony aggravated DUI with a child passenger less than 16 years old, identity theft, and retail theft. This criminal alien is in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.”
Critics said many detainees had no criminal record, citing federal data, and argued the administration’s focus on high arrest totals raises due process concerns.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/lawsuit-alleges-ice-detains-u-s-residents/ss-AA1Oi2Ll
A new memo from the Department of Homeland Security authorizes Federal Protective Service officers to leave federal property and, if necessary, enter private homes to “eliminate” threats, including what it describes as an “identified sniper” located blocks away from a federal facility, journalist Marisa Kabas reported Friday in her newsletter The Handbasket.
The internal memo, titled “Federal Protective Service [FPS] Policy and Off-Property Jurisdiction,” was written by DHS Acting General Counsel Joseph Mazzara and circulated to all FPS personnel on Wednesday by Benjamine Huffman, the DHS Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Management, per the report.
Addressing concerns about the legal limits of FPS jurisdiction, Mazzara wrote that such limits “are misplaced,” and that “the limits to FPS’s authority off federal property are the edges of the Constitution on one side and necessity on the other.
Mazzara stated that FPS officers are permitted to respond to incidents even far from federal buildings if a “reasonable nexus” to the protection of federal property exists.
He wrote: “FPS could even enter a private residence containing an identified sniper blocks away from a federal facility in order to eliminate that exigent threat. There is simply no legal barrier to FPS taking action off federal property where a reasonable nexus to protecting that property exists.”
The phrase “identified sniper” refers to an individual who has been clearly recognized by FPS as posing a lethal, long-range threat — likely armed and positioned to target a federal building or officers.
The memo frames this as a justification for the use of force and warrantless entry in urgent situations.
Mazzara also wrote that FPS may set up barriers, fences, and other physical controls in areas near, but not limited to, federal buildings.
“This is not limited to the sidewalk or streets immediately adjacent to federal buildings as we do not live in a world of sticks and stones, but Mausers and Winchesters,” he said, referencing rifle brands.
One FPS employee, who was not named, told The Handbasket: “It’s quite clear that agents are being told they can go wherever. All of it was quite alarming and an unusual email to receive both in content and tone.”
The guidance comes as National Guard troops have been deployed to cities like Chicago, where DHS agents have recently been involved in arrests of immigrants, journalists and clergy. U.S. Northern Command confirmed Wednesday that these deployments are intended to protect DHS personnel and property.
In an accompanying email, Huffman wrote that the guidance “reaffirms that FPS officers and, by extension, any DHS personnel performing protective functions at ICE or CBP facilities may operate beyond federal boundaries when a clear nexus exists to the protection of federal property. Meanwhile, although the memo presents its scenarios as responses to threats, internal reports from DHS itself suggest a different picture.
The New York Times reported that FPS assessments of recent protests in cities like Portland described them as “low energy,” offering no indication of heightened threats that would warrant expanded enforcement powers.
Another FPS employee told The Handbasket: “I guess they got jealous of ICE being able to do anything they want.”
