The Dark Side of Asylum: Force-Feeding in ICE Detention Exposed

The US immigration detention system has long been shrouded in secrecy. A recent investigation by the Guardian, however, has shed light on a particularly egregious tactic used to break hunger strikers: force-feeding.

Gabar Choli’s story is a harrowing example of this practice. The Kurdish filmmaker and activist was held in ICE detention for eight months during which time he was subjected to repeated episodes of force-feeding. Choli recounts being physically restrained while medical staff inserted a feeding tube through his nose and down his esophagus, pumping nutritional liquid into his stomach.

Choli had been protesting conditions at the Port Isabel federal detention center in Texas, where he was being held for deportation after his asylum application was denied. His hunger strike was an attempt to bring attention to his plight and push for a resolution to his immigration case.

According to court records reviewed by the Guardian, Choli’s prolonged hunger strike posed “a serious threat to the security and good order” of the detention center. He was accused of attempting to manipulate the immigration system through his protest.

The language used by ICE officials is revealing: force-feeding is not just a medical intervention but a tool of control designed to break an individual’s will and intimidate them into giving up their protest. In this case, it was used on at least 18 hunger strikers between January 2025 and August 2026.

The US government claims that force-feeding is only used when an individual’s medical condition presents a serious risk of death or permanent harm. However, the records reveal something more sinister: ICE officials sought court orders to subject Choli to involuntary medical procedures, including forced hydration, blood draws, and urine analysis tests through catheterization.

This raises questions about the true intentions of the US immigration detention system. Is it truly committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals in its custody, or is it using force-feeding as a way to silence dissenting voices?

Historically, the use of force-feeding has been associated with oppressive regimes. The British used it during the Irish hunger strikes in 1981, while the US military employed similar tactics on Guantanamo Bay prisoners. In this case, it’s clear that ICE officials are following a similar playbook.

The story of Gabar Choli highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability within the US immigration detention system. It also underscores the need for a fundamental re-evaluation of how we treat those seeking refuge.

As the fate of asylum seekers hangs in the balance, one thing is clear: the US immigration detention system needs a radical overhaul. We owe it to individuals like Gabar Choli, who have been broken by the very system meant to protect them.