The story of Gabar Choli, a Kurdish man who endured eight months of force-feeding while on a hunger strike in US immigration detention, is a harrowing tale of physical and psychological harm. Choli's experience highlights the extreme measures taken by ICE (US Immigration and Customs Enforcement) to break hunger strikers, a practice widely considered torture by international human rights groups.
Choli, a filmmaker and activist, was detained by ICE when his asylum application was denied. He resorted to a hunger strike to protest conditions at the Port Isabel federal detention center in Los Fresnos, Texas, and to push for a resolution to his immigration case. The force-feeding process, which occurred twice a day, involved physically restraining Choli while ICE medical staff inserted a feeding tube through his nose and pumped nutritional liquid into his stomach.
Choli's experience is not an isolated incident. The Guardian's investigation found that the Trump administration used court orders to subject at least 10 hunger strikers in ICE detention to involuntary medical procedures. However, it has since emerged that the number is even higher, with DHS sources revealing that between January 2025 and August 2026, ICE obtained court orders for involuntary medical treatment for 18 hunger strikers.
The use of force-feeding as a means of breaking hunger strikers raises serious ethical and legal questions. While ICE claims that involuntary medical treatment is only used to prevent imminent life-threatening harm or death, court records show that the term is used as an umbrella term that includes force-feeding. Choli's case, in particular, highlights the lack of legal representation and the extension of force-feeding orders at ICE's request, leading to injuries and medical complications.
The psychological impact of force-feeding is also significant. Choli described how the process mentally broke him, leading him to write an apology letter to his body. The sense of powerlessness and control is a powerful aspect of this story, as individuals are subjected to extreme measures that are designed to break their spirit.
The broader implications of this practice are also worth considering. The use of force-feeding as a means of breaking hunger strikers can be seen as a form of psychological warfare, designed to break the will of those who are protesting against their treatment. This raises questions about the ethical boundaries of detention and the use of force in the context of immigration.
In conclusion, the story of Gabar Choli is a stark reminder of the harsh realities faced by individuals in immigration detention. The use of force-feeding as a means of breaking hunger strikers is a disturbing practice that highlights the need for greater oversight and accountability in the immigration system. It is a powerful reminder of the importance of human rights and the need to ensure that individuals are treated with dignity and respect, even in the most challenging circumstances.
