Kurdish Filmmaker Recounts Inhumane ICE Force-Feeding

Kurdish filmmaker Gabar Choli has recounted what he describes as "inhumane" force-feeding by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) guards over several months in 2025. Choli, who was detained at the Port Isabel service processing center, an ICE facility in south Texas, detailed the ordeal in a recent account. He described being shackled, pinned, and forcibly fed, which he states left him with significant physical and emotional scars. The facility is used to detain immigrants arrested as part of Donald Trump's anti-immigration crackdown. Choli's account highlights the harsh conditions and treatment faced by some detainees within the U.S. immigration system. He specifically recalled an incident in June 2025, when he was in a solitary confinement medical cell, bracing for guards to enter his cell again for the procedure. At that time, Choli was described as sluggish and thin, with sunken temples and visible bones, indicating a state of severe physical deterioration. The force-feeding process, as described by Choli, involved extreme physical restraint and a forceful insertion of a feeding tube. He stated that the tube was "shoved so hard it tore my nose," illustrating the violent nature of the procedure. This experience has had a profound and lasting impact on his well-being, both physically and psychologically. The Port Isabel service processing center is a key facility within ICE's detention network, responsible for holding individuals apprehended during immigration enforcement operations. The context of his detention is linked to broader immigration policies enacted during the Trump administration, which aimed to increase enforcement and detention of undocumented immigrants. Choli's testimony brings to light specific allegations of mistreatment within these detention centers, raising concerns about the human rights and welfare of detainees. The physical toll of the force-feeding is evident in his description of his emaciated state, while the emotional and psychological impact is implied by the enduring trauma he reports. His narrative serves as a personal testimony against the backdrop of ongoing debates and scrutiny surrounding U.S. immigration detention practices and the methods employed by ICE. The details provided by Choli, including the specific location, the timeframe of the events, and the nature of the alleged mistreatment, contribute to a growing body of evidence and personal accounts detailing the experiences of individuals within the U.S. immigration detention system.