A series of Public Statements from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during its Migrant Crackdown in Chicago and across the Country, has been Contradicted or Undermined by Local Officials, a Civil Rights Attorney and a Legal Filing. These Issues have been particularly Notable in Three prominent Incidents: the Arrest of a WGN Employee, the Shooting of a U.S. Citizen Accused of Ramming Police Vehicles, and ICE’s Detention of a 13-year-old in Massachusetts. A closer look at the Incidents underscores the Broader Skepticism of the DHS’s Statements, as Federal Agents have moved into City streets in Chicago and elsewhere.
Last week, a Federal Judge Temporarily Halted the Trump (R) Administration’s Deployment of National Guard Troops in Illinois, saying its Statements about Protests were “Not Reliable.” The Administration had Highlighted several Arrests for Carrying Weapons and Assaulting Federal Agents, but the Judge responded that Federal Grand Juries had Refused to Indict at least Three of those Arrested, indicating a Lack of Probable Cause. “In addition to demonstrating a potential lack of candor by these affiants, it also calls into question their ability to accurately assess the facts,” U.S. District Court Judge April Perry wrote in Her Order of those Incidents.
A Judge Openly Questioning the Credibility of Law Enforcement, Reflects a Larger Problem, and raises Questions as to what Recourse Ordinary Citizens or Immigrants have when Accused. “A lawyer’s credibility isn’t just about personal integrity; it’s a factor judges are required to consider when ruling,” said Elliot Williams, CNN Legal Analyst and former Federal Prosecutor. “Simply put, parties lose when courts find their lawyers untrustworthy. DHS’s problem is how alarmingly consistent judges have been with their questions about the department’s work and its attorneys’ trustworthiness.” The Trump Administration has Appealed the Ruling. DHS has said it is Targeting Arrests of the “worst of the worst,” and its Agents are facing a Surge in Attacks against them. To understand this Credibility Issue, CNN took a Closer Look at DHS Statements about the Three High-Profile Incidents involving Federal Immigration Enforcement.
Federal Agents Detain a Chicago TV Station WGN Employee, Video from a Bystander last week, Captured the Arrest. In the Video, Officers put the Employee, Debbie Brockman, in Handcuffs while She lies Prone on the Ground, Her Pants falling down. The Officers then put Her in an Unmarked Vehicle and Leave the Scene. “I asked the agents like, well, why are you detaining this person?” Josh Thomas, the Witness who took the Video of the Arrest, “They basically tell me she’s obstructing justice.” Thomas said He did nNt Witness Brockman’s Interaction with the Agents before She was Detained. Brockman was Released Without Charges, after about Seven Hours of Detention, according to Her Attorneys. After the Video spread on Social Media, DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin (R) said in a Post on X, that the Arrest came as U.S. Border Patrol was Driving around Conducting Immigration Enforcement.
“Deborah Brockman, a U.S. Citizen, threw objects at Border Patrol’s car and she was placed under arrest for assault on a federal law enforcement officer,” McLaughlin said. In a Statement, Her Attorneys Disputed McLaughlin’s Version of Events and said She was Attacked by Federal Agents while on Her Morning Commute. “Ms. Brockman and Her Legal Team Adamantly Deny any Allegation that She Assaulted Anyone. Rather, Ms. Brockman was the One who was Violently Assaulted by Federal Agents on Her way to work,” the Attorneys said.
A Woman is accused of Ramming a Border Patrol Agent with a Car. Her Attorney says that’s Not what Happened. DHS’s Statements about the Shooting of a 30-year-old U.S. Citizen have been Undermined by a Criminal Complaint and by an Attorney who watched Body-Camera Footage of the Incident. Marimar Martinez, the U.S. Citizen, was Arrested and Shot Multiple times by a Customs and Border Protection Agent in Chicago on October 4th. McLaughlin (R), the DHS Assistant Secretary, said in a Post on X that Multiple Drivers, One of whom was “armed with a semi-automatic weapon,” Rammed a Law Enforcement Vehicle.
“Law enforcement was forced to deploy their weapons and fire defensive shots at an armed US citizen who drove herself to the hospital to get care for wounds,” She said. A DHS Press Release Repeated the Allegation that Martinez was “armed with a semi-automatic weapon.” Together, the Statements gave the Impression Martinez had been Brandishing Her Firearm when She was Shot. Martinez was Charged in Federal Court with Forcibly Assaulting, Impeding, and Interfering with a Federal Law Enforcement Officer. The Criminal Complaint, though, does Not Mention a Semi-Automatic Weapon or that Martinez was Armed.
Instead, the Complaint alleges Martinez Drove into and Side-Swiped a CBP Vehicle. When an Agent got out of the Vehicle, Martinez drove at the Agent, who Fired about Five Shots at Martinez, the Complaint states. Protesters face off with Federal Agents after DHS says it Fired at Driver who ‘rammed the law enforcement vehicle’ in Chicago on Saturday. CBP Agent Shot at Driver who Rammed Her Car at Law Enforcement Vehicle, Criminal Complaint says In Court Wednesday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Richard Bond said Martinez “forcibly impeded Border Patrol agents,” and that the Case involved a Dangerous Weapon, a Motor Vehicle. Martinez pleaded Not Guilty.
Martinez’s Attorney, Christopher Parente, told CNN She has a Concealed-Carry License and had a Handgun in Her Purse, inside a Holster with the Snap Closed. “It was never brought out in this incident,” He said. Parente has Disputed the Government’s Account Generally as well. He said He viewed Body-Camera Footage, which has Not been made Public, that He said shows a CBP Vehicle Swerved into Martinez’s Vehicle, not the other way around. Then, “within seconds,” an Officer jumped out of His Vehicle and Fired at Martinez, Parente said.
“Normally in a criminal case I would not speak to the media until the case is over, but there is such misinformation out there that the public needs to see this is not what they’ve been sold by the government,” Parente told CNN. “I think anybody who sees what’s going on today is going to question these indictments coming out of the Department of Justice,” He added.
A 13-year-old in Everett, Massachusetts, was Detained by ICE and Moved to a Different State last week, in a Case in which Local Officials have Contradicted a Key Statement from a DHS Official. The Arrest took place October 9th when Police called Josiele Berto, the Mother of 13-year-old Arthur, to say Her Son had been Arrested. The Teenager was then Detained by ICE and moved to Virginia, She soon learned. The Berto Family is from Brazil, and have had a Pending Asylum Application since Arriving in the U.S. in 2021, Berto said.
Juliette Kayyem, CNN Senior National Security analyst and former DHS Executive, said Misleading Claims can be Exposed in the Modern Age. “In an era where everyone has a camera in their pocket, social media has been flooded with videos of immigration operations,” She said. “DHS must seriously understand that any blatantly misleading claim about tactics can often be easily disproved in this new digital age, especially if they’re happening frequently.”
A Federal Agent prepares to throw a Tear Gas Canister at Community Members during Clashes on Chicago’s South Side on October 14th. Federal judge Demands Answers from Trump Admin on following Order to Avoid Violent Encounters with Chicago Protesters. The Credibility Questions have also placed a Spotlight on One Law Enforcement Tool often Missing from Immigration Enforcement Operations: Body-Worn Cameras. The Technology is a Staple at Police Departments across the Country, Documenting Encounters with the Public and helping Clarify Questionable Incidents and Competing Claims.
On Thursday, a Federal Judge in Chicago, Questioned whether Federal Law Enforcement Agents are following an earlier Order and said She will require All Agents with Body Cameras to have them On during Encounters with Immigration Protesters. “That’s the nice thing about body cameras is that they pick up events before the triggering event happens,” She said.
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