Laugh Factory Chicago night manager Nathan Griffin was arrested Friday morning outside the iconic comedy club by federal agents, sparking outrage and confusion across the local entertainment community.
According to witnesses, Griffin, a U.S. citizen, was tackled to the ground by masked agents while attempting to intervene in what appeared to be an immigration operation outside the North Broadway venue. Bystanders captured video showing multiple agents in camouflage restraining Griffin and handcuffing him, briefly pinning his mother, Elaine Plybon, in the process.
“Why are you doing this? Where are you taking him?” onlookers can be heard shouting as Griffin was placed in the back of a government SUV. Watch below. Warning, some could find this video disturbing:
Griffin’s family has since launched a GoFundMe to cover legal costs, with his brother-in-law writing that Griffin was held “hidden throughout the system” for several hours before resurfacing in FBI custody. He reportedly faces a federal assault charge that could carry up to eight years in prison if convicted.
In a video posted afterward, Griffin’s mother said her hand was injured in the struggle. “For those of you who don’t know, I was in Chicago visiting my son, and he was kidnapped by Border Patrol in front of my eyes,” she said.
Local resident Will Kolic told NBC Chicago Griffin saw agents detain a man who appeared to be Hispanic before the crowd began shouting “stop it.” He said more agents then arrived and arrested the manager.
A Border Patrol spokesperson told the outlet that Griffin “attempted to impede and obstruct federal officers” by shutting a car door on an agent’s leg. The agency said he was “immediately detained and turned over to the FBI for investigation.”
Chicago Police said officers responded around 9:20 a.m. to a report of a “battery in progress,” adding that they worked to “de-escalate and conduct crowd control to ensure all those who had gathered at the location remained safe.”
A now-deleted post from the Laugh Factory’s official page confirmed that Griffin’s family was aware of the arrest and was “actively working to get his release.”
The arrest comes as the Trump administration intensifies federal enforcement efforts, deploying additional National Guard troops to several major U.S. cities, including Chicago.
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