ICE Force-Fed Asylum Seeker for 8 Months in Texas Detention
You filed an asylum application, and while it was pending, ICE arrested you at a routine check-in. That is exactly what happened to Gabar Choli — and what followed was eight months of force-feeding in a Texas detention center. His case is now forcing a public reckoning over what happens inside ICE detention when immigrants protest their conditions.
Eight months of force-feeding after an asylum denial
Gabar Choli, a Kurdish filmmaker and activist, entered the US from Canada in 2022 and applied for asylum, citing death threats connected to his political work campaigning for an independent Kurdistan. He lived in Los Angeles on a work permit while his case moved through immigration court. On February 25, 2025 — weeks after Donald Trump returned to the White House — ICE arrested him at a routine check-in after his asylum case was denied.
Choli began a hunger strike to protest conditions in detention and to push for movement on his case. ICE transferred him from California to the Port Isabel federal detention center in Los Fresnos, south Texas. There, according to federal court records reviewed by the Guardian, ICE obtained a court order to force-feed him. The procedure happened as often as twice a day from late May 2025 until he was deported in January 2026. Guards physically restrained him while medical staff inserted a feeding tube through his nose and down his esophagus. Court records document injuries including swollen sinuses, esophageal damage, and stomach problems. "It just broke me, mentally broke me," Choli told the Guardian. "I decided to write my body an apology letter."
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How many people has ICE force-fed?
The Guardian's investigation found this is not an isolated case. DHS sources told the outlet that between January 2025 and August 4, 2026, ICE obtained court orders for involuntary medical treatment — a legal term that includes force-feeding — for 18 hunger strikers in detention. Some detainees agreed to eat when presented with a court order; others were force-fed. DHS said in a statement that ICE "provides involuntary medical treatment only to prevent imminent life-threatening harm or death" and that any such treatment is carried out "pursuant to legal authority and under the direction of qualified medical professionals." In Choli's case, however, ICE also argued in court records that his hunger strike posed "a serious threat to the security and good order" of the facility and accused him of trying to "manipulate the immigration system."
Choli had no legal representation throughout the eight-month ordeal. Federal Judge Rolando Olvera of the Southern District of Texas denied his request for legal assistance and extended the force-feeding order multiple times at ICE's request. Dr. Chanelle Diaz, an assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University's medical center who has reviewed similar cases, told the Guardian: "That is just not medical care, that is torture." Choli was deported in January 2026 and now lives in Canada.
What to do
- If your asylum application was denied and you have a scheduled ICE check-in, speak with an immigration lawyer before you go. An attorney can review whether any appeals or motions are still available to you.
- If you or someone you know is detained by ICE, contact a nonprofit immigration legal services organization immediately — many provide free or low-cost help to people in detention who cannot afford a lawyer.
- If you are in detention and considering a hunger strike, know that ICE can seek a federal court order for involuntary medical treatment. Document everything in writing and request legal representation in writing as well.
- If you believe your rights are being violated in ICE detention, organizations like the ACLU and Human Rights Watch accept reports and may be able to intervene or publicize your case.
Related: our step-by-step guide — “Preparing for Your Asylum Interview”.
Fishkin Law Firm, New York
Detainees in ICE custody retain constitutional rights, including the right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment — and force-feeding a competent adult who is voluntarily refusing food raises serious Eighth Amendment concerns. If you are detained, submit a written request for legal representation immediately and ask that it be logged; courts have sometimes considered the absence of counsel as a factor in reviewing detention conditions. Anyone facing a force-feeding order should know that a federal judge must authorize it, which means there is a legal proceeding where an attorney could potentially intervene — consult an immigration or civil rights attorney as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can ICE really force-feed someone in detention?
Yes, but only after obtaining a court order from a federal judge. ICE must show that the person faces imminent risk of death or serious harm. A judge must approve the order, and it can be renewed. Between January 2025 and August 4, 2026, ICE obtained such orders for 18 detainees, according to DHS sources cited by the Guardian.
What happens if my asylum application is denied and I have an ICE check-in scheduled?
ICE can arrest you at a check-in after a denial, as happened to Gabar Choli. Before any check-in, speak with an immigration lawyer. You may still have options — such as an appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals or a motion to reopen your case — but the deadlines are very short.
Do I have the right to a lawyer if I am detained by ICE?
You have the right to hire a lawyer at your own expense, but the US government is not required to provide you one for free in immigration proceedings. In Choli's case, the federal judge denied his request for appointed legal assistance. Nonprofit organizations and pro bono attorneys sometimes take detention cases — contact them immediately after arrest.
Can I protest conditions in ICE detention without risking more harm?
You have the right to report abuse and request humane treatment. Written complaints to the detention facility, the DHS Office of Inspector General, or outside advocacy organizations are options that carry less legal risk than a hunger strike. If you do go on a hunger strike, be aware that ICE can seek a court order for involuntary medical treatment, including force-feeding.