Nathan Griffin, the night manager of Laugh Factory Chicago, was arrested on Friday morning outside the comedy club after attempting to intervene in an immigration operation. Despite being a US-born citizen, he was tackled by masked federal agents and taken into custody, according to witnesses and family members.
Video footage shows at least four agents in camouflage pushing Griffin to the ground and handcuffing him, briefly pinning down his mother, Elaine Plybon. Bystanders shouted as he was placed in a vehicle. Plybon later described the incident as a 'kidnapping' by Border Patrol.
Griffin was held for about four hours before resurfacing in FBI custody, facing a federal assault charge that carries up to eight years in prison if convicted. A Border Patrol spokesperson said Griffin attempted to shut a car door on an agent's leg, obstructing federal officers.
Chicago Police arrived at 9:20 am in response to a battery call and helped de-escalate the situation. A crowdfunding page has been set up for Griffin's legal fees, as reported by his brother-in-law.
The arrest comes amid heightened immigration enforcement under the Trump administration, including the deployment of National Guard troops to cities like Chicago.
