What might have been another routine demonstration quickly spiraled into a defining political moment. Armed federal agents in tactical gear moved against protesters who had physically blocked government vehicles, triggering scenes of chaos that would be replayed for days on cable news. At the center of it all was Kat Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old candidate running for Illinois’ 9th Congressional District.

The Facility at the Center of Controversy
The Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) processing center in Broadview, Illinois, has long been a target for activists. Officially intended as a short-term holding facility, designed to detain individuals for no more than 12 hours before transfer, it has been accused of functioning as a de facto detention site.

Activists allege that detainees, including pregnant women and elderly immigrants, have been held for days or even weeks at a time. Reports describe people sleeping on concrete floors, without access to proper meals or hygiene products. These accounts have turned Broadview into a symbol of what critics say are systemic abuses in the immigration system.