Dem Congressional Candidate Learns Fate After Attacking ICE

A Democratic congressional candidate in Illinois is facing federal charges after allegedly obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers during repeated far-left demonstrations outside a suburban Chicago detention center.

Kat Abughazaleh, a social media personality and activist running in the Democratic primary for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, is accused of physically blocking federal vehicles and interfering with ICE agents at the agency’s Broadview, Illinois detention facility.

Federal prosecutors say Abughazaleh repeatedly placed herself in front of moving government vehicles during ongoing protests and attempted to hinder ICE operations. The indictment, filed October 23, states she “physically hindered and impeded” an ICE agent who was forced to drive at an “extremely slow rate of speed to avoid injuring any of the conspirators.”

Abughazaleh is one of six defendants facing charges tied to what authorities described as coordinated efforts to obstruct law enforcement. Two of the additional defendants are also Democratic political candidates who campaigned alongside far-left activist groups.

The Broadview facility has become a flashpoint for escalating confrontations with radical immigration protestors. Demonstrators — many aligned with hard-left organizations — have blocked ICE buses, slashed tires, confronted agents, and hurled rocks at vehicles transporting detainees. Federal officers were compelled to deploy pepper spray, tear gas, and less-lethal rounds to regain control as crowds grew increasingly aggressive.

Abughazaleh herself recorded and posted footage of one such standoff to X on September 26, showing her and others directly obstructing a federal vehicle while chanting, “Up, up with liberation.”

In her caption, she claimed the opposite of what the indictment alleges:
“At the Broadview ICE facility, an ICE agent tried to run dozens of protesters over with an SUV as we walked on a public crosswalk.”

Prosecutors say the facts tell a much different story.
The indictment asserts that Abughazaleh and others “conspired… to prevent by force, intimidation, and threat, Agent A… from discharging the duties of his office” and to cause injury or property damage with the intent to obstruct his lawful duties.

Abughazaleh faces one count of conspiracy and another count alleging she “forcibly impeded, intimidated, and interfered” with a federal officer in the performance of his duties. None of the defendants have been taken into custody; all are scheduled to self-surrender November 5. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge April M. Perry, a Biden appointee.

Abughazaleh responded by accusing the government of political motives.
“This is a political prosecution, and a gross attempt to silence dissent… That’s why I’m going to fight these unjust charges,” she said in a public statement.

However, this is not an isolated incident.

In May, New Jersey Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver was indicted for allegedly assaulting and interfering with ICE agents during an incident at the Delaney Hall immigration facility in Newark. Despite McIver’s claim that she was engaged in an oversight visit, video reportedly shows her striking and pushing an ICE officer.

The cases highlight a deeply revealing contrast:
While Democrats increasingly align themselves with activists who obstruct federal immigration enforcement, President Donald Trump has reaffirmed that illegal immigration laws must be enforced and that federal officers must be allowed to do their jobs.