Democratic candidate Katherine Abughazaleh indicted over ICE protest
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A Democratic congressional candidate in Illinois has been indicted on federal charges stemming from an incident in which protesters allegedly attacked an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle outside a suburban Chicago facility last month.
Katherine “Kat” Abugazaleh, 26, who has branded herself a “Gen Z influencer” running for Congress in Illinois’ 9th District, is accused of conspiring to impede or injure an ICE officer on duty in Broadview, Ill., on Sept. 26, according to an indictment unsealed Thursday unsealed Wednesday.
Abuhazaleh was expected to win the Democratic nomination to replace retiring 81-year-old Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL.).
Five other protesters were charged alongside Abuhazaleh, including one of his associates and two other political candidates. The defendants include Andre Martin, identified in the indictment as a co-worker who worked for or with him; Michael Rabbit, a Democratic committeeman in Chicago’s 45th Ward; Cook County Board of Commissioners candidate Catherine Sharp; Brian Straw and Joselyn Walsh are listed as Illinois residents.
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Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abugazaleh holds a megaphone outside the Broadview ICE processing facility on Sept. 26, 2025. (Reuters/Jim Vondruska)
According to the indictment, a group of people surrounded a government vehicle “in an aggressive manner” by hitting and pushing the car “in order to prevent or disrupt operations.” Protesters allegedly carved derogatory messages on the car, including the word “PIG”, broke the side mirror and damaged the rear windshield wiper.
The indictment also alleges that Abuhazaleh moved towards the front of the government vehicle during the confrontation, pressed his hands on the hood, and used his body to block the road.
“No one is above the law and no one has the right to obstruct the law,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement Wednesday. he said. “The Department of Justice will never tolerate this type of behavior and will continue to hold accountable anyone who attempts to obstruct lawful federal operations.”
“All federal officials must be able to discharge the duties of their office without encountering force, intimidation or threats,” Andrew S. Boutros, United States attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said in a statement Wednesday. he added. “As we have warned repeatedly, we will seek to hold accountable those who cross the line, from peaceful protests to unlawful acts or conspiracies that disrupt, impede or impede the due administration of justice.”
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Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abugazaleh protests at an ICE processing facility near Chicago, Illinois, on September 26, 2025. (Reuters/Jim Vondruska)
Abuhazaleh responded to the accusations in a post on Wednesday, X, claiming he was targeted for exercising his First Amendment rights.
“This is a political investigation and a massive attempt to silence dissent, a right protected under the First Amendment,” Abuhazaleh said. he said. “This lawsuit is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to criminalize protest and punish those who dare to speak out. That’s why I will fight these unfair accusations.”
The case was assigned to U.S. District Judge April Perry, who is also presiding over a separate case involving President Donald Trump’s efforts to deploy the National Guard to Chicago. Perry had previously blocked the deployment of troops after the Trump administration requested an emergency stay, arguing there was no evidence of “danger of insurrection” in the state.
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Protests at the ICE facility have put Abuhazaleh in the spotlight recently, including an incident last month in which an agent reportedly threw him to the ground, which went viral on social media.
The “Gen Z influencer” is a former video producer for liberal watchdog Media Matters for America, who has also amassed a large TikTok following.
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Abughazaleh’s indictment came shortly after another Democratic politician, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-N.J.), was charged with assaulting ICE agents, underscoring a rise in cases involving political figures allegedly interfering with immigration enforcement.
Fox News’ Brie Stimson contributed to this report.
