Choli suffered swollen sinuses, a damaged esophagus, stomach problems and psychological torment, according to court records and his own account. Court records say a judge denied his asylum claim in 2024 but granted him protection from deportation to Iran. Sharpless is not familiar with Choli’s case but represented an ICE hunger striker in 2021 who was ordered force-fed. He is still struggling today, physically and mentally, but hopes that speaking out may help others in ICE detention. ICE and the US attorney’s office requested Choli’s force-feeding court case be dismissed in January, saying he was no longer in their custody.