Illinois Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh said she suffered minor injuries after being knocked to the ground by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent during a protest outside the Broadview ICE detention facility near Chicago.
Abughazaleh, running for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District, posted a video of the confrontation on X, stating, “This is what it looks like when ICE violates our First Amendment rights.” She later added, “What ICE just did to me was a violent abuse of power — and it’s still nothing compared to what they’re doing to immigrant communities.”
The video shows a masked ICE agent in camouflage lifting Abughazaleh by her torso and throwing her onto the pavement, where she landed hard on her right side. She told MSNBC that she sustained minor injuries but did not specify their extent.
ICE at protests
Abughazaleh said ICE agents shouted, “Your First Amendment rights are on the sidewalk,” while deploying tear gas and firing pepper balls into the crowd, some of which struck her. She criticized the facility, noting it should process people within 12 hours, but detainees are being held for days or weeks.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin condemned the protesters, calling them “fame-hungry, sanctuary politicians” who put law enforcement at risk.
Other candidates affected
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, also running in the Democratic primary, said he and other peaceful protesters were tear-gassed. Democratic candidate Bushra Amiwala also reported being tear-gassed at the protest.
ICE arrests
The protest occurred amid ICE’s immigration crackdown in the Chicago area. Since the incident, ICE has made over 400 arrests as part of its ongoing enforcement, following President Donald Trump’s order launching “Operation Midway Blitz” on September 8, despite opposition from Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker.
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