Key Takeaways
- Homeland Security officials under the Trump administration forced medical procedures on at least 10 detained immigrants.
- The practices included force-feeding and involuntary blood draws, widely considered torture by human rights groups.
- Detainees were subjected to these procedures in privately-run centers across Texas, Florida, and Washington state.
Exclusive Guardian records reveal that Homeland Security officials under the Trump administration forcibly treated at least 10 detained immigrants with medical procedures, including force-feeding and involuntary blood draws.
These practices were documented in court filings from 2025 to 2026, showing that detainees at privately-run centers like Port Isabel Service Processing Center in Texas, Krome Service Processing Center in Miami, and Northwest ICE processing center in Washington state faced these invasive procedures.
One Kurdish asylum seeker was force-fed for nearly eight months before being deported. Another detainee endured similar treatment for six months.
In at least five cases, hunger strikers ceased their strikes just before the forced medical procedures began, indicating a clear strategy by officials to prevent prolonged fasting among detainees.
Legal representation was often absent during these court proceedings, raising concerns about due process and the rights of detained immigrants.
Medical experts warn that with the return of Trump's administration and increased immigration arrests, more hunger strikes could occur, potentially leading to further forced medical treatments.
The Guardian investigation highlights a stark example of brutality in US detention practices under the Trump administration, drawing attention to the need for reform in how immigrant detainees are treated.
