A Democratic congressional candidate tied to the left-wing congressional “Squad” was thrown to the ground by federal officers this week during a confrontation outside an immigration processing center in Illinois.
Kat Abughazaleh, a former journalist running in a crowded Democratic primary for Illinois’ 9th District, posted a video online showing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents physically restraining her after she blocked an ICE vehicle, The Chicago Sun-Times reported.
The incident unfolded outside the agency’s Broadview facility, according to the Western Journal. The video shows Abughazaleh, dressed in jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt, standing in front of an ICE van as protesters and reporters crowded around. When she refused to move, agents forced her away. Another officer reportedly deployed tear gas in an effort to disperse the surrounding crowd.
“This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights,” Abughazaleh wrote on X while sharing the clip.
But the reaction online was not sympathetic.
“Kat Abughazaleh admittedly obstructed ICE agents,” one critic wrote, tagging U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. “Make a legal example out of this criminal.”
Another pointed to 18 U.S.C. § 111, a federal statute that criminalizes resisting or impeding federal officers while they perform official duties. The law carries a maximum penalty of eight years in prison.
A third commenter argued, “Why would she not be arrested? We have to give these people consequences or they will continue to behave this way.”
Abughazaleh, who previously worked for the left-wing watchdog group Media Matters, has styled herself as an anti-ICE progressive and is hoping to ride that momentum in a crowded primary contest. Campaign finance filings show she currently leads the Democratic field in fundraising, with about $666,000 in cash on hand.
Her clash with ICE comes as she seeks to raise her profile in a 10-way primary for the safely Democratic seat. The district has been represented for years by Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), who announced in May that she would not run for reelection.
The confrontation is the latest in a string of incidents involving progressive Democrats outside immigration facilities. Earlier this year, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), another Squad-aligned lawmaker, was arrested at a New Jersey detention center after allegedly assaulting a federal officer.
That protest spiraled further when Newark’s Democratic mayor, Ras Baraka, was taken into custody at the same site. Baraka’s charges were quickly dismissed, but McIver is facing a trial scheduled for November. She has pleaded not guilty.
The repeated clashes highlight a broader strategy by some on the left to challenge ICE operations directly, often by attempting to physically block deportation vehicles or processing centers. Critics argue such tactics cross the line from protest into obstruction of justice.
For Abughazaleh, the Broadview altercation could serve as both a rallying cry and a political liability. Supporters see her as willing to put herself on the line for immigrant rights, while detractors view the stunt as reckless grandstanding that risks federal charges.
ICE has not commented publicly on the confrontation or confirmed whether Abughazaleh will face criminal charges. The agency has generally defended its officers’ actions in similar situations, citing the need to enforce immigration law and ensure safety at federal facilities.
