Cuban ICE detainee force-fed via surgical tube after judge's order during hunger strike
Sep 1, 2026·Location: Conroe, TX
Country of origin: Cuba

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
Sources
- ICE given permission to force-feed Cuban hunger striker with gastric tube
The Guardian·Sep 5, 2026·archived copy
- Federal Judge Authorises ICE To Force-Feed Cuban Detainee on Hunger Strike With Surgical Feeding Tube
ibtimes.co.uk·Sep 6, 2026·archived copy
- ICE Given Permission to Force-Feed Cuban Hunger Striker in Texas
federalcharacter.com·Sep 5, 2026
- ICE given permission to force-feed Cuban hunger striker with gastric tube | US immigration
- Judge Authorizes ICE To Force‑Feed Cuban Detainee — Permission Includes Surgical PEG Tube
crbcnews.com·Sep 5, 2026
- ICE Got a Judge to Approve Stomach Surgery on a Man Who Refused to Eat
thedingodaily.com·Sep 5, 2026
More incidents in Texas
- Texas pastor deported to Ghana, a country he has never visitedOct 6, 2026 · Mesquite, TX
- ICE arrests in Austin area surge over 300% since start of Trump's second termOct 6, 2026 · Austin, TX
- ICE agent shoots Venezuelan DoorDash driver in back, leaves him partially paralyzedOct 4, 2026 · Austin, TX
- Bodycam footage contradicts ICE account of US citizen's fatal shooting in TexasOct 4, 2026 · South Padre Island, TX
- Hundreds march in San Antonio as officials weigh lawsuit against ICE detention facilityOct 3, 2026 · San Antonio, TX
- Judge expands border wall halt across Big Bend region of TexasOct 2, 2026 · El Paso, TX