SAG-AFTRA Condemns Pepper Spray Attack on CBS-Chicago Journalist

CBS Chicago reporter Asal Rezaei, a SAG-AFTRA member, was allegedly targeted with a pepper ball—a projectile containing chemical irritants—by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent while driving near the ICE processing facility in Broadview, Illinois. 

Sunday, Rezaei was en route to cover potential activity at the site but found no protesters present. As she began to leave with her driver's side window down, the agent fired from behind the facility's fence, striking her vehicle and filling the interior with chemicals that burned her face and caused her to vomit for hours. She described the attack as "absolutely unprovoked," noting she was alone, about 50 feet from the entrance, and did not verbally identify as press

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This incident occurred amid escalating protests against ICE operations at the Broadview facility, which intensified over the prior weekend. On Saturday, federal agents deployed tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets, and flash-bang devices against demonstrators, journalists, legal observers, and bystanders, leading to four arrests on charges of assaulting and resisting federal officials. 

The day before Rezaei's encounter, independent journalist Steve Held, co-founder of Unraveled Press, was detained by ICE while covering the protests; he was released hours before the pepper ball incident.

SAG-AFTRA, the performers' and media professionals' union representing Rezaei, issued a strong condemnation Monday, labeling ICE's actions as "illegal and excessive tactics" that threaten press freedom. In a statement, the union declared: "Unprovoked, violent attacks against journalists must never be glossed over or normalized. We condemn the use of illegal and excessive tactics and demand this incident be thoroughly and independently investigated." 

The union emphasized that such incidents undermine the First Amendment and called for accountability, aligning with broader concerns over the militarization of immigration enforcement.