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Legal representatives representing a journalist from the city of Chicago's local TV network who was temporarily detained by federal agents last week describe the incident as "an occurrence that ought to concern and frighten every person in this country".

Particulars of the Detainment

Debbie Brockman, a American national and WGN employee, was taken into custody on the weekend by government officers during an ICE action in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood. Footage from the location depict the producer being forced to the ground by officers before she is restrained and put in a vehicle.

At the time, a homeland security official claimed that the individual "hurled items at border patrol's car" and was "detained for attacking an officer".

Later on Friday, WGN confirmed that Brockman had been freed from detention and that no accusations had been pressed against her.

Legal Team's Response

In a statement released by attorneys representing Brockman on Tuesday, her legal team challenged the official version. They declared they "strongly refute any claim that she attacked anyone" and that "Brockman was the one who was physically attacked by officers on her way to work" on 10 October.

Her attorneys say that at the time of the detainment, the journalist was "not acting in any professional capacity as an staff member for the station" but that she was just "walking to the transit point as part of her morning commute when she was confronted by Border Patrol agents.

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

The statement indicates that she told the onlookers her name and that she worked at the station, in the hopes that "a person would inform her workplace so colleagues would know that she would not be coming at work that day", her attorneys said.

Consequences and Legal Action

Based on her lawyers, Brockman was kept in government detention for about several hours before being freed.

"She has not been accused with any crimes and she intends to explore all legal options available to her to uphold her rights and hold the federal authorities accountable for their actions," the release notes.

"Brad Thomson, a legal representative, commented in the statement: "If equipped, masked, federal agents are snatching US citizens off the street as they travel to work and placing them in non-descript cars, you can only imagine what these agents must be willing to do to our immigrant neighbors and individuals who choose to speak out against them."

"Ms Brockman was forced down, struck, handcuffed, and her pants were pulled down revealing her bare buttocks," Thomson said. "Not anyone should be treated like that in this city, in this country or anywhere else in the globe."

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