Protesters gathered in a designated “free speech zone” near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing and detention facility in Broadview, Illinois on October 31, 2025. This event sparked a lawsuit against media figure Benny Johnson, known for his pro-Trump stance. Johnson is accused of defamation by protesters he allegedly mislabeled as “left-wing terrorists” who attacked federal officers.
One protester, Kyle Frankovich, was unaware of Johnson until the influencer posted a video. The footage showed Frankovich and other detained protesters outside the ICE facility in Broadview last October. Johnson claimed the protesters assaulted ICE officers attempting to clear the area, but a lawsuit filed by Frankovich and fellow protester Maureen Foody contends otherwise.
Frankovich was present in the “free speech” area, recording videos of ICE agents, when he was arrested. He was thrown to the ground, zip-tied, and later released without charges. Images of Frankovich, displaying his identifiable tattoos, were later used in ICE recruiting materials. Frankovich, a data scientist at Harvard University, and Foody, a court reporter, argue their lives changed due to these accusations.
“[Frankovich] and his partner do not take walks alone anymore. He has made his social media private and uses a Google service to flag whenever his address is made available online,” the lawsuit states.
Johnson did not comment on the case. He has a large following on social media, and his footage appeared on Fox News. At the time, Johnson was embedded with then-Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Border Patrol Commander-at-Large Gregory Bovino. Rachel Goodman, counsel with Protect Democracy, noted this case reflects a broader strategy of the Trump administration to control narratives. Although not part of this lawsuit, Goodman warned about tactics used to invalidate political opposition and influence media content.