Illinois congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh was forcibly removed by ICE officers Friday morning after attempting to block entry to a federal processing center in Broadview.
Video footage shows her stepping directly in front of an ICE vehicle, prompting agents to intervene and drag her to the ground to restore order.
The protest escalated when an ICE agent accidentally dropped a tear gas canister, which a demonstrator picked up and threw near NewsNation reporter Ali Bradley, according to her X account.
Officers moved quickly to prevent injuries and maintain control of the scene, which drew a mix of local activists, journalists and community members.
The tense confrontation briefly halted operations at the facility and drew widespread attention from both the media and bystanders.
Abughazaleh, running in the Democratic primary for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, reported being struck with pepper balls during the incident.
She posted a video of the encounter on social media, claiming her First Amendment rights were violated.
“This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights,” she wrote, attracting significant attention online and sparking debate among supporters and critics alike.
Federal agents deployed tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, and at least two other protesters were taken into custody.
Their whereabouts after processing inside the facility were not immediately known.
Abughazaleh had initially blocked the vehicle by sitting in its path, underscoring the potential hazards of interfering with federal officers performing their duties and highlighting the unpredictability of such direct confrontations, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
A former journalist and progressive activist, Abughazaleh has consistently championed illegal immigrant rights.
Her campaign opposes mass deportations and detention centers, supports reforms to legal immigration procedures and advocates for expanded refugee resettlement.
She emphasizes immediate pathways to citizenship for DREAMers and additional resources for communities hosting immigrants, arguing these steps are essential to address systemic inequities in the immigration system and ensure humane treatment for newcomers.
Legal experts emphasize that while citizens are entitled to protest and voice political opinions, obstructing federal officers executing their responsibilities carries legal risk.
Observers on social media noted that stepping directly between ICE officers and their work is inherently dangerous, potentially putting both the officers and the protesters at risk.
Analysts also caution that such incidents can have broader consequences for a candidate’s public image and credibility.
The incident comes amid a crowded Democratic primary, where Abughazaleh reportedly holds one of the largest campaign war chests, with roughly $666,000 on hand, per Trending Politics.
The 9th District seat will be open after Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) announced she would not seek reelection, making visibility and name recognition crucial for candidates in the highly competitive race.
Experts note that attention-grabbing demonstrations can elevate a candidate’s profile but may also expose them to political and legal vulnerabilities.
This confrontation follows a trend of similar incidents at immigration facilities involving progressive politicians.
Earlier this year, New Jersey Democratic congressional candidate LaMonica McIver was charged with assaulting a federal officer at a detention center.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka was briefly detained at the same location, although his charges were later dismissed. McIver’s trial is scheduled for November.
In New York City, Comptroller Brad Lander was first arrested in June for interfering with an ICE operation, and on Friday, he was arrested again alongside several colleagues.
Abughazaleh’s removal highlights the tension between advocacy for immigrant rights and the legal limits of protest.
While the demonstration reflects her political platform and commitment to illegal immigrant communities, it also illustrates that federal law enforcement duties and public safety requirements take precedence over individual actions during demonstrations.
The episode serves as a cautionary example of balancing activism with the rule of law and the potential consequences of crossing legal boundaries during high-profile protests.
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