Kat Abughazaleh, a progressive House candidate in Illinois, has been indicted on charges of conspiracy and assault during a protest at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility near Chicago. Abughazaleh, a recent Illinois transplant and social media influencer, is among several charged after a demonstration at the Broadview ICE detention center turned confrontational.

According to federal prosecutors, in September, Abughazaleh and other protesters allegedly encircled a government vehicle, pounding on and damaging it. The indictment details how participants scratched the word “PIG” into the car and broke a mirror and windshield wiper. Footage shared by Abughazaleh on social media shows protesters, including herself, touching the vehicle as it moved through a crowd.

This legal action comes as Abughazaleh vies for a congressional seat soon to be vacated by Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who decided not to run for re-election in 2026. Abughazaleh and other candidates named in the indictment are portraying the charges as a crackdown on political dissent.

In a public statement, Abughazaleh denounced the charges as a “political prosecution” aimed at stifling opposition. “This case is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to criminalize protest and punish those who dare to speak up,” she claimed, labeling the charges “unjust.”

Catherine Sharp, another political figure implicated, echoed these sentiments through her attorney, Molly Armour, who criticized the charges as an attempt to intimidate individuals from exercising their First Amendment rights. The Department of Justice has not yet commented on the matter.

Protests have been a common sight outside the Broadview center since President Trump intensified ICE operations in Chicago, leading to frequent clashes. Abughazaleh herself has been a vocal and active participant in these demonstrations, having previously experienced physical confrontations with law enforcement at the same location.

Evanston mayor Daniel Biss, also a contender for Schakowsky’s seat, supported Abughazaleh, calling the charges “frivolous” and criticizing ICE's actions as “violent and dangerous.” Biss added, “As someone who has protested at Broadview multiple times, I know these protests are nonviolent demonstrations against the kidnapping of our neighbors.”

The indictment has sparked a broader discussion on the boundaries of protest and government response, setting the stage for a heated battle not just in the courts, but also at the ballot box as the election approaches.