Democratic candidate Katherine Abughazaleh indicted over ICE protest

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A Democratic congressional candidate in Illinois has been indicted on federal costs stemming from an incident wherein protesters allegedly attacked an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) car exterior a Chicago suburb facility final month.

Katherine "Kat" Abughazaleh, 26, who has branded herself as a "Gen Z influencer" operating for Congress in Illinois’s ninth District, is accused of conspiracy to impede or injure an ICE officer whereas on obligation in Broadview, Illinois, on Sept. 26, in accordance with a Thursday indictment unsealed Wednesday.

Abughazaleh had been anticipated to win the Democratic nomination to succeed Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL.), 81, who's retiring.

5 different protesters had been additionally indicted alongside Abughazaleh, together with one in all her associates and two different political candidates. The defendants embrace Andre Martin, described within the indictment as an affiliate who labored for or together with her; Michael Rabbit, a Democratic committeeperson in Chicago’s forty fifth Ward; Catherine Sharp, a candidate for the Cook dinner County Board of Commissioners; Brian Straw and Joselyn Walsh, who're listed as Illinois residents.

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Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh holds a megaphone exterior of the Broadview ICE processing facility on Sept. 26, 2025. (Reuters/Jim Vondruska)

In accordance with the indictment, a bunch of people surrounded a authorities car with "intent to hinder or impede" operations by "aggressively" banging and pushing the automobile. The protesters allegedly etched derogatory messages together with the phrase "PIG" into the automobile, broke a facet mirror and damaged a rear windshield wiper.

The indictment additionally alleges that Abughazaleh moved to the entrance of the federal government car through the confrontation, urgent her palms in opposition to the hood and utilizing her physique to dam its path.

"Nobody is above the legislation and nobody has the precise to hinder it," Todd Blanche, Deputy Legal professional Common, stated in a press release Wednesday. "The Division of Justice won't ever tolerate such conduct and can proceed to carry accountable anybody who seeks to impede lawful federal operations."

"All federal officers should be capable of discharge the duties of their workplace with out confronting power, intimidation, or threats," Andrew S. Boutros, United States legal professional for the Northern District of Illinois, added in a press release Wednesday. "As we've warned repeatedly, we are going to search to carry accountable those that cross the road from peaceable protests to illegal actions or conspiracies that interrupt, hinder, or impede the due administration of Justice."

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Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh protests at an ICE processing facility on Sept. 26, 2025, close to Chicago, Illinois. (Reuters/Jim Vondruska)

Abughazaleh responded to the fees in a put up on X Wednesday, claiming that she is being focused for exercising her First Amendment rights.

"It is a political prosecution and a gross try at silencing dissent, a proper protected below the First Modification," Abughazaleh stated. "This case is yet one more try by the Trump administration to criminalize protest and punish those that dare to talk up. That’s why I’m going to battle these unjust costs."

The case has been assigned to U.S. District Decide April Perry, who can also be presiding over a separate case involving President Donald Trump’s efforts to deploy the Nationwide Guard to Chicago. Perry had beforehand blocked the deployment of troops, citing that there was no proof of a "hazard of insurrection" within the state after the Trump administration had requested an emergency keep.

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Protests on the ICE facility have lately thrust Abughazaleh into the highlight, together with an incident final month when an agent reportedly threw her to the bottom — a second that went viral on social media.

The "Gen Z influencer" is a former video producer on the liberal watchdog Media Issues for America, which has additionally garnered a big TikTok following.

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Abughazaleh’s indictment comes shortly after one other Democratic politician, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), was charged with assaulting ICE agents , underscoring a rise in instances involving political figures allegedly interfering with immigration enforcement.