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Hunger-striking Cuban man in ICE custody ordered force-fed by surgical tube

A Cuban man held near Houston went on a hunger strike and was force-fed under a judge's order, including approval for a surgical feeding tube, though DHS later said he had resumed eating.

Sep 1, 2026Conroe, TXCountry of origin: Cuba

Hunger-striking Cuban man in ICE custody ordered force-fed by surgical tube
Photo via The Guardian

An unnamed Cuban man detained at the GEO Group-run Montgomery ICE Processing Center near Houston, Texas, was arrested by ICE on July 22 and declared a hunger striker three days later. DHS says he entered the U.S. unlawfully in 1980, was ordered deported in 2004, and has prior convictions; he currently lacks legal representation and many of his court records are sealed. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen authorized force-feeding, first via nasogastric tube and later approving a rare, nonconsensual surgical gastrostomy (PEG) tube procedure, with the order extended into September. DHS later said the man had resumed eating and drinking and was not being force-fed, though it remains unconfirmed whether the surgical procedure was performed. ACLU of Texas attorney Savannah Kumar and civil rights attorney Eunice Cho criticized the tactics as torturous, noting the case is likely the 19th in which ICE has sought court approval for involuntary medical procedures on hunger-striking detainees since January 2025.

Timeline

Sep 1, 2026—Court order extended into September; DHS said detainee resumed eating and drinking, surgical procedure status unconfirmed
Aug 19, 2026—Federal judge Andrew Hanen authorized force-feeding via nasogastric tube and later approved surgical gastrostomy tube insertion without consent
Jul 25, 2026—Detainee declared a hunger striker
Jul 22, 2026—Cuban man arrested by ICE and detained at Montgomery ICE Processing Center near Houston
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