Chicago journalists sue Trump over "extreme brutality" at ICE protests

What's inside: "Never in modern times has the federal government undermined bedrock constitutional protections on this scale," the groups argue in the 52-page lawsuit.

• The suit describes violent incidents involving agents, journalists and protesters, alleging the "acts of brutality by federal officers are too numerous to catalogue."
• "Federal officers, acting on instructions and encouragement from high government officials, have systematically worked to intimidate and terrorize non-threatening protesters," they wrote.
• They also allege that officers, dressed in "full combat gear, often masked, carrying weapons, bearing flash grenades and tear gas canisters ... have repeatedly advanced upon those present at the scene who posed no imminent threat to law enforcement."

The big picture: The plaintiffs are a coalition of Chicago news associations and labor unions, along with the nonprofit newsroom Block Club Chicago.

• They're joined by three individual journalists and four protesters.

Between the lines: The lawsuit goes beyond press freedom, detailing injuries to protesters and also alleging violations of religious freedom. It claims federal agents shot a Presbyterian minister as he stood praying and threw a flash-bang grenade next to a mother, causing temporary hearing loss.

What they're saying: "It's a shame that we have to keep filing lawsuits to prevent the government from brutalizing journalists," NewsGuild president Jon Schleuss told Axios in an emailed statement.

• "Journalism is not a crime," Schleuss said. "The First Amendment makes press freedom the cornerstone of our democracy and we will keep fighting to defend that right for all Americans."
• Chicago News Guild president Andy Grimm told Axios journalists have a right to report on the news and they "should not be targeted, injured or arrested for doing their jobs."

The other side: "We remind members of the media to exercise caution as they cover these violent riots and remind journalists that covering unlawful activities in the field does come with risks — though our officers take every reasonable precaution to mitigate those dangers to those exercising protected First Amendment rights," DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Axios in an email Monday evening.

• "President Trump and Secretary Noem are committed to restoring law and order in Chicago and around the country. Anyone who actively obstructs law enforcement in the performance of their sworn duties will face consequences, which could include arrest."

Zoom out: The Trump administration's use of force against journalists covering ICE protests has been heavily criticized by democracy watchdogs.

• The NewsGuild won a preliminary injunction blocking DHS' tactics toward journalists in Southern California last month.
• There, a federal judge ruled that ICE was violating freedom of the press "under the guise of protecting the public." The judge prohibited DHS agents from using or threatening to use chemical weapons like tear gas against anyone not directly threatening an agent.

What we're watching: The Chicago groups asked the court for similar relief in their case.

• That includes banning crowd-control weapons like tear gas, pepper spray, flash-bangs and rubber bullets.
• The plaintiffs also asked the court to require officers to wear visible identification on their uniforms.

Go deeper: Chicago's chaotic weekend with federal clashes

Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin.