An employee with Chicago TV station WGN, Debbie Brockman, was arrested by Border Patrol agents Friday morning for allegedly throwing objects at a Border Patrol vehicle. WGN reported the employee was released later on Friday without any charges filed against her, however Border Patrol in Chicago on Saturday appeared to indicate charges may be filed.
The arrest comes after a federal judge barred the federal government from using force against journalists covering ICE raids and protests in Chicago.
This compilation video posted by USA Today shows Brockman being detained and put into a Border Patrol vehicle. The video is edited to remove a Border Patrol agent warning a vehicle boxing them in to move before the agents took evasive action to escape by hitting the car blocking their path.
“You are not welcome here!” Bystanders filmed the moment Debbie Brockman, a Chicago TV station employee, was held face down on the ground and detained by Border Patrol agents. pic.twitter.com/n3WnT5Q0Yh
— USA TODAY Video (@usatodayvideo) October 11, 2025
The New York Post published the unedited video showing the agent warning the blocking vehicle to move:
This overhead video shows agents struggling to get the heavyset Brockman off the pavement and into their vehicle.
Debbie Brockman “was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.” A producer for WGN-TV, a Chicago television station, arrested after throwing objects at law enforcement. https://t.co/yrWlr9dhGV pic.twitter.com/IZASzymR5R
— Joni Job (@jj_talking) October 10, 2025
Photo of Brockman posted by Border Patrol taken after they got her in their vehicle.
Videos of Brockman’s arrest went viral, prompting comments from the Department of Homeland Security and WGN (Newsweek excerpt):
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.”
On Saturday, the head of the Border Patrol effort in Chicago, Gregory Bovino, posted a photo of Brockman in a Border Patrol vehicle along with a statement indicating federal charges may be in the works:
Fair and transparent local news stations in Chicago?
Apparently not, as this employee of a local television network decided to take the news cycle to a whole new level by throwing an object at Border Patrol Agents conducting lawful duties.
Reporting now shifts to a different narrative; one of assault on a Federal officer ( 18 USC 111), a serious felony.
Don’t become a negative news story. Don’t assault ICE or Border Patrol Agents.
Fair and transparent local news stations in Chicago?
Apparently not, as this employee of a local television network decided to take the news cycle to a whole new level by throwing an object at Border Patrol Agents conducting lawful duties.
Reporting now shifts to a different… pic.twitter.com/BXjhMYtPeD
— Commander Op At Large CA Gregory K. Bovino (@CMDROpAtLargeCA) October 11, 2025
Bovino also posted earlier Saturday, “Media personnel should be there to document and report, not actively contribute to violence against our law enforcement personnel conducting legitimate law enforcement operations.”
Media personnel should be there to document and report, not actively contribute to violence against our law enforcement personnel conducting legitimate law enforcement operations. https://t.co/VqiQVvj0n7
— Commander Op At Large CA Gregory K. Bovino (@CMDROpAtLargeCA) October 11, 2025
Excerpt from WGN’s report on the arrest last updated Friday evening:
A WGN creative services department employee was detained by two Border Patrol officers and later released after federal agents swarmed a busy intersection on Chicago’s North Side Friday morning, at the height of rush hour.
WGN is not naming the employee, as station policy requires blurring faces and not identifying those who have not been charged with a crime.
…According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the WGN employee, who is also a U.S. citizen, allegedly threw objects at a Border Patrol car. She was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer.
…WGN-TV is still in the process of searching for and obtaining video showing the moment leading up to the employee’s detainment. WGN-TV also learned that the Border Patrol released the employee from federal custody, without charges, as of 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10.
A spokesman for the US Attorney in Chicago confirmed no charges have been filed in the WGN employee’s case as of 6 p.m. Friday.
This video report by WGN shows what appears to be a clear liquid containing object thrown at the windshield of the Border Patrol vehicle. Brockman appears to be the only person on the sidewalk when the object is thrown. The WGN report also makes clear Brockman is not part of their news division.
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