Kurdish hunger striker says ICE force-feeding ‘mentally broke me’
Summary
A Kurdish man named Gabar Choli was force-fed over eight months in a US immigration detention center while on a hunger strike. He described the physical and mental harm caused by the force-feeding, which involved inserting a feeding tube through his nose. US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says it uses such medical treatment only to prevent serious harm or death.Key Facts
- Gabar Choli, a Kurdish filmmaker and activist, was detained by ICE after his asylum claim was denied.
- He went on a hunger strike to protest detention conditions and seek resolution of his case.
- ICE force-fed him at Port Isabel detention center in Texas from May 2025 to January 2026 before deporting him.
- Force-feeding involved restraint and putting a feeding tube through his nose to deliver nutrients.
- International human rights groups consider force-feeding in such cases as a form of torture.
- ICE obtained court orders to give involuntary medical treatment, including force-feeding, to at least 18 hunger strikers from early 2025 to mid-2026.
- ICE states it uses involuntary treatment only to stop life-threatening harm and follows legal procedures with medical oversight.
- ICE and the Department of Homeland Security declined detailed comments on individual cases but said they aim to ensure safety and well-being in custody.
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