U.S. House of Representatives candidate Kat Abughazaleh has been indicted for obstructing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations after repeatedly positioning herself in the path of federal vehicles, allegedly impeding agents’ work.
The indictment, filed on Thursday, names Abughazaleh among six rioters, including two other political candidates, in connection with unrest outside an ICE detention facility in Broadview, Illinois.
Abughazaleh, a far-left journalist and social media influencer campaigning in Illinois’ Democrat-leaning 9th Congressional District, allegedly “physically hindered and impeded” a federal agent forced to drive at a slow pace to avoid harming protesters.
The Broadview facility has been the site of repeated confrontations with anti-ICE activists.
Multiple Democratic candidates for the vacant House seat, including Abughazaleh and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, have publicly filmed themselves obstructing ICE vehicles.
Resist the Mainstream has continuously highlighted that protesters at the facility have reportedly thrown rocks, slashed tires and clashed with agents during near-daily disturbances.
ICE personnel attempted crowd control with pepper spray, tear gas and rubber bullets, often outnumbered until reinforcements arrived from federal resources and the National Guard.
A video posted to X on Sept. 26 shows Abughazaleh leading demonstrators in front of a moving ICE vehicle as the crowd chanted, “Up, up with liberation.”
Trending Politics reports that the indictment alleges a conspiracy “to prevent by force, intimidation, and threat, Agent A, a United States law enforcement officer, from discharging the duties of his office, and to injure him in his person or property…to interrupt, hinder, and impede him in the discharge of his official duties.”
None of the defendants have been arrested; all are scheduled to self-surrender on Wednesday, Nov. 5.
Judge April M. Perry, a Biden appointee, is presiding over the case.
Abughazaleh faces one count of conspiracy and one count alleging she “forcibly impeded, intimidated, and interfered” with a federal agent.
She has described the charges as political persecution and vowed to fight them.
In a fundraising email, the Democratic candidate accused the “Trump administration” of weaponizing the federal legal system to intimidate activists, claiming protesters “should not be silenced for speaking up.”
Federal authorities note that interference with ICE operations is not isolated.
Other Democratic officials have faced legal consequences for similar actions, as RTM has previously covered.
Rep. LaMonica McIver (D‑NJ) was indicted for impeding federal officers during a May confrontation at an ICE facility in Newark and NYC Comptroller Brad Lander was arrested for interfering with operations at Manhattan’s 26 Federal Plaza.
These cases underscore a growing trend among far-left political figures attempting to obstruct immigration enforcement.
Legal experts warn that obstructing federal law enforcement carries serious criminal penalties, reinforcing that political activism cannot legally include blocking or threatening agents carrying out their duties.
Authorities stress that interfering with ICE operations, whether through physical obstruction or intimidation, is considered a serious federal offense, with potential prison time and fines.
The Broadview indictment and related cases signal heightened scrutiny of elected officials and candidates employing direct-action tactics against federal agencies.
The situation highlights the tension between progressive activism and enforcement of federal law, emphasizing the consequences for those who cross legal boundaries while attempting to make political statements.
Observers note that the unfolding cases serve as a cautionary tale for activists who test the limits of federal authority while promoting civil disobedience as part of their campaigns.
WATCH:
