Politics
Judge authorizes ICE to force-feed detained Cuban hunger striker using surgical tube
Court records show immigration officials secured approval for an involuntary surgical procedure at a Texas facility.
The short version
- A federal judge granted ICE permission to force-feed a detained Cuban hunger striker in Texas using a nonconsensual surgical feeding tube.[The Guardian]
- Court records indicate this is the 19th hunger strike case where ICE obtained approval for involuntary medical procedures since January 2025.[The Guardian]
- DHS stated that the man resumed eating and drinking and is not currently being force-fed.[The Guardian]
- The detained man currently lacks legal representation, and the extended court order is set to expire in mid-September.[The Guardian]
Key facts
- A federal judge in Texas granted ICE permission to force-feed a detained Cuban hunger striker, including via a surgical feeding tube procedure without consent.[The Guardian]
- The case marks the likely 19th hunger striker in ICE custody approved for involuntary medical procedures since January 2025.[The Guardian]
- The detainee currently lacks legal representation during these court proceedings.[The Guardian]
- DHS reported that the detainee entered the US unlawfully in 1980, was ordered deported in 2004, and holds prior criminal convictions.[The Guardian]
What remains uncertain
- It is unknown how many times ICE force-fed the detainee prior to the latest court order, or whether he broke his hunger strike specifically in response to the order.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.