Progressive congressional hopeful calls charges “political prosecution” amid Trump’s crackdown on Democratic cities.
CHICAGO, October 29, 2025 — A U.S. Democratic congressional candidate, Kat Abughazaleh, has been indicted by the Department of Justice (DOJ) following a protest outside a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Illinois. The indictment, announced Wednesday, has sparked outrage among progressives who view it as part of a broader political crackdown by the Trump administration.
Abughazaleh, 26, a progressive activist, journalist, and influencer, is running for Illinois’s 9th Congressional District, which covers parts of northern Chicago and its suburbs. She announced the charges on social media, calling them a “political prosecution” meant to silence dissent.
“This political prosecution is an attack on all of our First Amendment rights,” Abughazaleh wrote. “I’m not backing down — and we’re going to win.”
Federal Indictment and Allegations
According to the DOJ, Abughazaleh and five others “physically hindered and impeded” ICE officers during a September 23 protest outside the Broadview Detention Facility, a key processing center for immigrants facing deportation.
The federal indictment alleges the group surrounded an ICE vehicle, “banged aggressively” on its body, broke side mirrors, and etched the word “PIG” on the car. Prosecutors said the confrontation prevented the agent from driving forward.
Abughazaleh faces two felony counts:
- Conspiracy to impede or injure an officer
- Assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal agent
If convicted, she could face several years in federal prison.
Among those charged with her are Michael Rabbitt, a Democratic organizer in Chicago’s 45th Ward, and Catherine Sharp, who is running for a seat on the Cook County Board of Commissioners.
Political Fallout and Support
The indictment immediately drew criticism from fellow Democrats, civil rights advocates, and local leaders who framed it as a politically motivated attack on free speech and protest rights.
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who is running against Abughazaleh in the 2026 Democratic primary, defended her right to protest and condemned the Trump administration’s actions.
“The only people engaged in violent and dangerous behavior at Broadview have been ICE,” Biss said in a statement. “The Trump administration is targeting protesters, including political candidates, to silence dissent. It won’t work.”
Progressive organizations including MoveOn, Justice Democrats, and the ACLU of Illinois have expressed concern that the DOJ is being used as a tool for political intimidation during a period of heightened tension between the Trump White House and Democratic-run cities.
Background: Trump’s Standoff with Democratic Cities
The indictment comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Democratic state and city governments, particularly over immigration enforcement.
In recent months, the White House has ordered the deployment of federal agents to sanctuary cities such as Chicago, Portland, and New York, as part of what Trump has called a “national deportation initiative.”
Courts have repeatedly blocked Trump’s attempts to deploy the National Guard without state consent. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing whether the president can override governors to deploy troops in domestic law enforcement actions — a move critics say would set a dangerous precedent for presidential power.
At the same time, Trump has defended his administration’s actions as “restoring law and order” in cities he says have become “havens for lawlessness and illegal immigration.”
Critics Decry ‘Criminalization of Dissent’
Civil rights groups have called the indictments part of a disturbing trend in which protesters are being prosecuted under federal statutes typically reserved for violent crimes.
“The Department of Justice is criminalizing peaceful protest under the guise of protecting officers,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, president of Common Cause. “This case is about intimidating young progressive candidates and activists who dare to challenge ICE and federal authority.”
Legal analysts say the case could test the boundaries of the First Amendment and federal protest law, especially given Abughazaleh’s status as a political candidate.
“This is not just about one protest,” said University of Chicago law professor David Strauss. “It’s about whether political expression that disrupts federal operations can be prosecuted as a federal crime — and where that line should be drawn.”
Broader Political Implications
Abughazaleh’s indictment is likely to reshape the race for Illinois’s 9th Congressional District, which has long been a Democratic stronghold.
Her campaign has gained traction among younger voters and progressives, who see her as part of a new generation of Democrats advocating for immigration reform, climate justice, and corporate accountability.
In a follow-up post, she vowed to continue her campaign “for justice and democracy” despite the charges.
“We will not be silenced,” she said. “We will keep fighting for a world where ICE no longer terrorizes our communities.”
Key Facts
- Who: Kat Abughazaleh, 26, Democratic congressional candidate and activist.
- What: Indicted on federal charges over an ICE protest in Illinois.
- Where: Broadview Detention Facility, near Chicago.
- Charges: Conspiracy to impede or injure an officer; assaulting/resisting a federal agent.
- Context: Comes amid Trump’s immigration crackdown and legal battles over deploying federal forces to Democratic cities.
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