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Legal representatives representing a journalist from the city of Chicago's local TV network who was briefly held by federal agents last week describe the incident as "something that should alarm and horrify every person in this nation".

Details of the Arrest

Debbie Brockman, a American national and WGN employee, was taken into custody on the weekend by government officers during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in a North Side Chicago area. Videos from the scene show Brockman being pushed down by two agents before she is handcuffed and put in a vehicle.

At the time, a government spokesperson claimed that Brockman "hurled items at border patrol's car" and was "detained for attacking an officer".

Later on Friday, the television station announced that their employee had been released from federal custody and that no accusations had been filed against her.

Legal Team's Response

In a news release issued by lawyers acting for Brockman on earlier this week, her legal team disputed the government's account. They stated they "strongly refute any allegation 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 lawyers explain that at the time of the detainment, Brockman was "not performing in any professional capacity as an employee for the station" but that she was just "walking to the bus stop as part of her daily travel when she was attacked by federal officers.

"Brockman, who is a American citizen native to the US, was violently detained on a city street," the release continues. "As this happened, individuals on the street began filming the incident and asked Ms Brockman her name."

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

Aftermath and Legal Action

According to her legal team, the journalist was held in federal custody for about seven hours before being freed.

"She has not been accused with any crimes and she plans to explore all legal avenues open to her to uphold her rights and ensure government accountability for their conduct," the release adds.

"One attorney, a legal representative, commented in the statement: "If equipped, masked, federal agents are taking American nationals off the street as they travel to work and throwing them in non-descript cars, you can only conceive what these officers must be willing to do to our immigrant neighbors and people who dare to protest against them."

"Ms Brockman was forced down, struck, handcuffed, and her trousers were lowered exposing her uncovered skin," Thomson stated. "Not anyone should be handled like that in this city, in this nation or anywhere else in the globe."

Immigration authorities, the Department of Homeland Security, and the US Customs and Border Protection did not provide a prompt reply to requests for comment from the media.