CHICAGO (Civitas Global) — A Democratic congressional candidate in Illinois, Kat Abughazaleh, has been indicted alongside five others for obstructing vehicles during protests outside a federal immigration enforcement building in suburban Chicago, court documents reveal.
The indictment filed recently by a special grand jury alleges that Abughazaleh participated in an act of blocking a federal agent's vehicle outside the immigration processing center on September 26.
In a video shared on social media, Abughazaleh condemned the indictment, describing it as a political prosecution aimed at silencing dissent, which she claims is a First Amendment right. She argued that the case exemplifies an attempt by the government to criminalize protest and punish those speaking out against the administration's immigration policies.
Protests have surged outside the immigration center, with demonstrators calling attention to enforcement operations that have reportedly led to over 1,800 arrests and multiple complaints about the use of excessive force by ICE agents.
U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis has taken unprecedented measures to oversee immigration operations in Chicago, demanding nightly briefings from Greg Bovino, the leader of the Border Patrol in the area. This oversight comes in response to escalating tensions and aggressive tactics employed by federal agents.
Details surrounding the indictment highlight that Abughazaleh and her co-defendants allegedly surrounded a vehicle operated by a federal agent, demanding to prevent it from entering the facility. The indictment asserts that they used physical force against the vehicle, damaging it in the process.
Abughazaleh's candidacy is set against a backdrop where immigration issues have emerged as a pivotal concern in the upcoming Democratic primary, particularly after recent instances of federal enforcement activities in Illinois. She stands against other candidates, all of whom are actively engaging in protests against the immigration crackdown.
“As I and others have exercised our First Amendment rights, ICE has hit, dragged, and tear-gassed hundreds of protesters,” Abughazaleh declared, opposing the actions of federal officials in their local communities. She further emphasized her commitment to fighting against what she views as a drift towards authoritarianism. “I'm not gonna stop now, and I hope you won't either,” she concluded.
