Quick Read
- Kat Abughazaleh, a Democratic candidate, was pushed to the ground by an ICE agent during a protest outside the Broadview detention center.
- Federal agents used tear gas and pepper balls to disperse protesters, arresting at least two individuals.
- Operation Midway Blitz, a Trump administration initiative, has intensified immigration enforcement in Chicago and other sanctuary cities.
- Abughazaleh and other candidates vow to continue protesting as detentions rise.
- Families remain anxious about the fate of those detained at Broadview.
ICE Protest in Broadview Erupts Amid National Immigration Crackdown
In the pre-dawn chill of September 19, 2025, the streets outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center in Broadview, Illinois, bristled with tension. What began as a determined protest against federal immigration sweeps quickly escalated into chaos, leaving at least two protesters arrested, and one congressional candidate—Kat Abughazaleh—thrown to the ground by a camouflaged ICE agent. The confrontation was captured on video and shared widely, turning the suburban facility into a flashpoint for national debates on immigration and civil rights.
Kat Abughazaleh at the Center of the Storm
Kat Abughazaleh, 26, a progressive Democrat vying for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District seat, had made the Broadview facility a focal point of her campaign. With a background in journalism and activism, Abughazaleh has been an outspoken critic of federal immigration enforcement, particularly the Trump administration’s Operation Midway Blitz—a campaign promising mass deportations across sanctuary cities like Chicago.
On that Friday morning, Abughazaleh joined dozens of others outside the Broadview center. The crowd included fellow Democratic primary candidates Daniel Biss and Bushra Amiwala, along with local officials such as Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss. Their presence underscored the political stakes of the moment: the open 9th District seat, long held by retiring Rep. Jan Schakowsky, had drawn a crowded field, and immigration policy was front and center.
Events took a violent turn as ICE and Border Patrol agents—some in camouflage, others flanking the facility’s chief, Gregory Bovino—deployed tear gas and fired pepper balls into the crowd. According to Abughazaleh and video evidence, she was shoved to the ground by an ICE agent. “They shot pepper balls at the ground, then said, ‘Your First Amendment rights are on the sidewalk,’” Abughazaleh recounted to Newsweek. “When we tried to get in the way of the van, they picked us up, dragged us away, shoved people. I was picked up and thrown.”
The agents’ actions, which included the use of chemical agents and physical force, were meant to disperse demonstrators blocking the entrance of an ICE van—reportedly transporting newly detained individuals. An ICE helicopter hovered overhead, and a recorded warning boomed periodically, threatening arrest or chemical munitions if protesters did not disperse. At least two demonstrators were arrested and taken inside the facility. Their whereabouts remained unclear hours later, leaving families and fellow protesters anxious and frustrated.
Protesters Demand Answers as ICE Ramps Up Enforcement
The protest in Broadview was not an isolated incident. Over recent days, demonstrations had flared up across Chicago and other so-called sanctuary cities as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) intensified immigration raids under Operation Midway Blitz. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem insisted the operation targeted “the worst of the worst,” but advocates and witnesses at Broadview saw a different story.
“They’re not just detaining people with criminal records,” Abughazaleh said. “People with green cards, visas, even pregnant women and grandmothers are being held for days on concrete floors, denied beds, hygiene products, or hot meals.” Her account was echoed by Lisa Doty, 60, who traveled from Arlington Heights to join the protest. “What they’re doing is wrong,” Doty said, describing how she and others were pushed to the ground despite following police orders. “It’s inefficient and only serves to instill fear in the community.”
The emotional climate was palpable. Mayor Daniel Biss described the use of tear gas as “terrifying,” adding, “It was impossible to breathe and really, really scary. They’re trying to intimidate us, to stop us from standing up and being part of a non-violent resistance, and we will not be intimidated.”
Political Stakes and National Implications
The Broadview protest’s significance stretches far beyond the district’s boundaries. The 9th Congressional seat, centered in Evanston and spanning a swath of Chicago suburbs, is a safe Democratic seat—meaning the March 2026 primary will likely determine its next representative. The candidates’ willingness to face tear gas and physical confrontation signals a shift in how immigration enforcement is debated and resisted at the local level.
For Abughazaleh, her experience on the ground has become a rallying cry. “We care about our community. That’s why we are there. That’s why we are standing up. That’s why we will not be intimidated,” she told Newsweek, vowing to continue protesting as long as Operation Midway Blitz continues.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has positioned the crackdown as a necessary measure to enforce immigration law, dismissing claims of indiscriminate or inhumane detentions. Yet the images of armored agents, chemical weapons, and congressional candidates thrown to the pavement have fueled public outrage—and intensified calls for oversight and reform.
The unrest in Broadview is mirrored in other cities. In New York, a dozen Democratic officials were detained during a protest at a federal immigration court. In Los Angeles and Boston, similar demonstrations have erupted, reflecting a nationwide struggle over the scope and morality of federal immigration enforcement.
Searching for Family, Demanding Accountability
As the sun set on Broadview, families gathered outside the facility, desperate for news of loved ones detained in the chaos. The lack of information, and the images of forceful crackdowns, left many shaken. Protesters planned another rally for that evening, determined to keep the spotlight on conditions inside the detention center and the broader implications of Operation Midway Blitz.
While ICE insists its actions are lawful and targeted, the accounts from Broadview suggest a climate of fear and uncertainty extending beyond those directly targeted. For activists like Abughazaleh, the day’s events underscored both the risks and the stakes of speaking out.
As the 2026 primary approaches, the legacy of these protests—and the candidates’ willingness to confront federal authority—may reshape the district’s politics, sending ripples far beyond Illinois.
The confrontation at Broadview encapsulates a nation in flux, where the boundaries between civil protest and state power are being tested in real time. Kat Abughazaleh’s experience—a congressional candidate physically thrown to the ground—serves as a stark reminder of the raw tensions at the heart of America’s immigration debate. As federal operations intensify, so too does the resolve of those who demand accountability and humane treatment for all.