Democratic Congressional Candidate Indicted After Violent Anti-ICE Protest in Illinois

Katherine “Kat” Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old Democratic congressional candidate in Illinois, has been indicted on federal charges stemming from a violent protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents outside a federal facility in Broadview, Illinois.

Abughazaleh, a self-described Gen Z influencer and former Media Matters video producer, had been running to replace longtime Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky in Illinois’s 9th Congressional District. Her campaign now faces serious legal trouble after she and five others were indicted on conspiracy charges to impede or injure an ICE officer during an incident on September 26.

Federal prosecutors say the group aggressively targeted a government vehicle during the protest. According to the indictment, demonstrators surrounded the ICE vehicle, banged on it, and etched insults including the word “PIG” into the paint. They allegedly broke a side mirror and damaged the rear windshield wiper.

Abughazaleh is accused of physically blocking the vehicle by pressing her hands on the hood and standing in front of it to obstruct its path. Prosecutors argue the actions were not peaceful protest but a deliberate attempt to interfere with federal law enforcement.

Others named in the indictment include Andre Martin, a close associate of Abughazaleh’s campaign, Michael Rabbit, a Democratic committee person in Chicago’s 45th Ward, Catherine Sharp, a candidate for the Cook County Board of Commissioners, and Illinois residents Brian Straw and Joselyn Walsh.

Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche issued a statement emphasizing that federal officers must be able to do their jobs without being threatened or attacked. He said the Justice Department would not tolerate behavior that disrupts lawful operations.

United States Attorney Andrew Boutros added that his office will continue to pursue anyone who crosses the line from protest to criminal activity. He said the DOJ would hold accountable those who attempt to obstruct justice or hinder federal duties.

Abughazaleh responded to the indictment by claiming the charges are politically motivated. She said in a post on X that she is being targeted for exercising her First Amendment rights and accused the Trump administration of weaponizing the DOJ to silence political dissent.

She called the prosecution “a gross attempt at silencing dissent” and vowed to fight what she called “unjust charges.”

The case will be heard by U.S. District Judge April Perry, who is also overseeing a separate legal battle involving President Trump’s previous effort to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago. Judge Perry blocked that deployment, ruling there was no clear danger of rebellion in the state.

Abughazaleh’s profile had recently grown after video circulated online of a confrontation with an ICE agent who appeared to throw her to the ground during a protest. That moment helped amplify her social media following, particularly among younger progressive voters.

Her indictment follows a separate case involving Rep. LaMonica McIver, a New Jersey Democrat who was recently charged with assaulting ICE agents during another confrontation. Both incidents highlight the increasing friction between elected Democrats and federal immigration enforcement in recent years.