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As the world grapples with the treatment of immigrants, Kurdish filmmaker Gabar Choli has emerged from the shadows to recount a harrowing ordeal endured in a US immigration detention centre. For nearly eight months, Choli was subjected to force-feeding while on hunger strike, a brutal practice that he describes as dehumanising and torturous. Now residing in Canada, he shares his story in the hope of shedding light on the inhumane conditions faced by many detainees.
A Descent into Darkness
In June 2025, Gabar Choli found himself in solitary confinement at the Port Isabel Service Processing Center in Texas, a facility notorious for its harsh conditions. The 40-year-old Kurdish asylum seeker had embarked on a hunger strike over two months earlier, protesting the treatment of immigrants and demanding his release. By this point, he was frail and visibly weakened, his health deteriorating rapidly under the strain of his protest.
Choli vividly recalls the daily assaults that came with his force-feeding regimen. Guards would burst into his cell, pinning him to the cold, hard floor, before dragging him to the infirmary. There, medical staff would forcibly insert a feeding tube into his nose, a process that caused him immense physical pain. “Two guards would hold my feet; two held my hands; one held my head – and they would shove tubes in my nose,” he recounted. “It’s not easy to be wrestled to the ground twice a day by men that are stronger than you.”
A Systematic Violation of Rights
An investigation revealed that Choli was not an isolated case; he was one of at least 18 hunger strikers who faced similar treatment under the directives of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Trump administration’s approach to immigration, particularly in relation to hunger strikes, has been heavily scrutinised, with human rights advocates condemning force-feeding as a form of torture. Choli’s experience illustrates the distressing reality of a system that prioritises control over compassion.
Choli expressed his understanding of the necessity of standing up for his rights, stating, “I was respectful. I just told them I am protesting for humane treatment, nothing else. But they were determined to break me.” The psychological scars left by this ordeal are profound. Describing the toll it took on his mental state, he remarked, “It just broke me, mentally broke me.”
The Controversial Legal Framework
Despite the widespread condemnation of force-feeding, judicial support for ICE’s actions has often been unwavering. Court records indicate that federal judges frequently granted ICE’s requests for involuntary medical procedures without hearing from the detainees themselves. Choli lacked legal representation throughout his ordeal, a factor that significantly undermined his ability to challenge the court’s decisions.
The government has maintained that any medical intervention, including force-feeding, is conducted under strict legal authority and only when a detainee’s health is at serious risk. Yet experts assert that such actions violate basic tenets of medical ethics, including patient autonomy. Dr Chanelle Diaz, a medical professional who has evaluated similar cases, described Choli’s treatment as “likely amounting to torture,” highlighting the grave implications of the actions taken against him.
A Return to Canada and Continuing Struggles
Choli was ultimately deported to Canada on 6 January 2026, where he was reunited with family members. However, the scars of his experience remain. He recalls his first meal back, a simple salad, which he struggled to eat due to the trauma inflicted during his detention. “It may sound strange, but I had to learn how to eat again,” he reflected, illustrating the lasting impact of his time in detention.
Despite his physical and emotional scars, Choli has resolved to speak out about his experience. He believes that sharing his story may inspire others facing similar injustices. “The price of [the hunger strike] was my life,” he asserted, acknowledging the severe toll it has taken on his health. “But this is the price you pay for making a stand for what is right.”
Why it Matters
Choli’s account is not merely a tale of personal suffering, but rather a stark reminder of the human rights violations occurring within immigration detention systems. His experience underscores the urgent need for reform in how detainees are treated and the broader implications of such practices on the fight for humane treatment of immigrants. As Choli’s story gains traction, it shines a light on the ongoing struggles faced by countless individuals seeking refuge and justice in an often unyielding system.
