By GARANCE BURKE and MARTHA MENDOZA
Associated Press

Nearly 50 Democratic lawmakers are calling for a watchdog investigation of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the agency confirmed it had been force-feeding immigrant detainees on hunger strike.

Reporting by The Associated Press revealed late last month that nine Indian men who were refusing food at an El Paso, Texas, detention facility were being force-fed through nasal tubes.

That practice abruptly stopped last week after a U.S. district judge said the government had to stop force-feeding two of the detained immigrants against their will.

The 49 lawmakers want the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General to investigate the on-site conditions of ICE facilities and policies surrounding the involuntary force-feeding of immigrant detainees.

ICE said Tuesday the agency has "a strict zero-tolerance policy for any kind of abusive behavior."

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