Report: Behind Closed Doors: Abuse & Retaliation Against Hunger Strikers in U.S. Immigration Detention

Document Date: June 22, 2021

Behind Closed Doors: Abuse & Retaliation Against Hunger Strikers in U.S. Immigration Detention, a new research report from ACLU and PHR (Physicians for Human Rights), provides an in-depth, nationwide examination of what happens to people who engage in hunger strikes while detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Findings are based on an assessment of over 10,000 documents obtained through FOIAs, a review of ICE current policies, and interviews of formerly detained people who engaged in hunger strikes. The report covers during both Obama and Trump administrations and identifies over 1,000 hunger strikers across 24 states. It concludes with actionable recommendations for federal and state governments and medical professionals.

[Executive Summary in Spanish]

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