Discussion · House of Representatives
Norma J. Torres Democrat
“Immigrants detained in Texas went on hunger strikes to protest bad conditions. Instead of fixing the problems, the government got court orders to tie them down and force-feed them through tubes. One asylum seeker was force-fed for almost eight months.”
“Mr. Speaker, inside an ICE detention center in Los Fresnos, Texas, people detained by our government went on hunger strikes to protest the conditions that they are being held in. Instead of asking why people in their custody were desperate enough to stop eating, ICE went to court for permission to force feed them. Guards restrain hunger strikers while medical staff inserted feeding tubes through their noses and into their stomachs. One asylum seeker was subject to forced feeding for nearly 8 months. Think about that. A person is saying: I am so desperate about the conditions you are holding me in that I am willing to stop eating. The government’s response is: We are not going to address why you are protesting. We are going to physically stop you from protesting. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).”
Mr. Speaker, inside an ICE detention center in Los Fresnos, Texas, people detained by our government went on hunger strikes to protest the conditions that they are being held in. Instead of asking why people in their custody were desperate enough to stop eating, ICE went to court for permission to force feed them. Guards restrain hunger strikers while medical staff inserted feeding tubes through their noses and into their stomachs. One asylum seeker was subject to forced feeding for nearly 8 months. Think about that. A person is saying: I am so desperate about the conditions you are holding me in that I am willing to stop eating. The government’s response is: We are not going to address why you are protesting. We are going to physically stop you from protesting. Mr. Speaker, I yield to the gentlewoman from Pennsylvania (Ms. Dean).