{"id":292748,"date":"2025-10-10T19:48:11","date_gmt":"2025-10-10T19:48:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/292748\/"},"modified":"2025-10-10T19:48:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-10T19:48:11","slug":"wgn-staffer-detained-by-border-patrol-agents-in-lincoln-square-neighbors-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/292748\/","title":{"rendered":"WGN Staffer Detained By Border Patrol Agents In Lincoln Square, Neighbors Say"},"content":{"rendered":"

LINCOLN SQUARE \u2014 Federal agents detained a woman who works for the news agency WGN on Friday morning as she attempted to document them detaining a Latino man, witnesses said.<\/p>\n

It is unclear if the woman was working for WGN when she was detained. In a video a witness recorded of the incident, the woman identified herself as Debbie Brockman and said she works for WGN. Brockman is a full-time video editor and producer for the station, according to her LinkedIn profile.<\/p>\n

\u201cWGN is aware of this situation, and we are actively gathering the facts related to it,\u201d the company said in a statement.<\/p>\n

Between 8 and 9 a.m. Friday, Josh Thomas, who lives near Lincoln and Foster avenues, heard a commotion with cars honking and people screaming, he said. When he looked out his house\u2019s balcony, he saw masked federal agents attempting to detain a man.<\/p>\n

Thomas went downstairs to document what was happening, and he saw two Border Patrol agents on top of a woman who was face down on the ground, he said.<\/p>\n

Thomas also saw a Latino man held by Border Patrol agents sitting inside a silver minivan with New Jersey plates, he said.<\/p>\n

The woman identified herself as Brockman and asked witnesses to contact WGN. When Thomas asked federal agents why she was being detained, they said she was detained for obstruction, he said.<\/p>\n

\"\"Screenshot of a video of a woman, who identified herself as Debbie Brockman, getting detained and moved into a van by U.S. Border Patrol agents on Oct. 10, 2025. Credit: Provided<\/p>\n

A rapid response group member said witnesses told him Brockman saw federal agents detaining the man and attempted to film them and asked them for a warrant, and then the agents detained her. The rapid response group member asked not to be named.<\/p>\n

Another video<\/a> shows Brockman on her knees while agents handcuff her hands behind her back and people film. One agent yells at the people filming to move back. Another agent appears to put his hands on Brockman\u2019s face and neck, and a neighbor yells at them to stop, saying Brockman \u201ccan\u2019t \u2026 breathe.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Screenshot of damage to a van occurred when a van driven by Border Patrol agents drove off after detaining at least two people, including a WGN employee, in Lincoln Square on Oct. 10, 2025. Credit: Provided<\/p>\n

Videos also show several bystanders filming the incident and asking agents to identify themselves and whether they had a warrant as one agent yells and pushes them back. Another bystander can be seen screaming in apparent support of Border Patrol\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n

After a few minutes, federal agents put the woman inside the minivan and shut the door, but realized another van was in their way, Thomas said.<\/p>\n

After two federal agents got out of the minivan to briefly yell at the driver to move, the agents got back into the van and drove off, hitting the other car and breaking its rear bumper and tail lights, according to videos and witnesses.<\/p>\n

Customs and Border Patrol did not immediately respond to Block Club\u2019s questions.<\/p>\n

Federal immigration agents who aren\u2019t working undercover are required to wear badges with identifying information \u2014 \u201cunique, recognizable alpha-numeric\u201d identification \u2014 on their uniform or helmet, under a ruling issued Thursday<\/a> by a federal judge. It\u2019s unclear whether the agents who detained Brockman were wearing such identification.<\/p>\n

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.<\/p>\n

Happening In Chicago<\/p>\n