Immigration detainee ends hunger strike under threat of force feeding

A Russian detainee in San Diego who hadn’t eaten in more than two weeks has ended his hunger strike on the heels of a federal ruling that would allow force feeding if necessary.

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw approved an emergency temporary restraining order that would allow medical staff at the Otay Mesa Detention Center to examine Evgenii Ivanov, 41 — using soft restraints if necessary — and then forcibly feed and hydrate him if warranted.

The judge was to hear further argument on the matter on Friday to consider a more permanent order, but the hearing was taken off calendar and set almost two weeks out. The postponement was to give Ivanov time to reply to the government’s request.

On Friday afternoon, the government asked the case to be dismissed, reporting Ivanov was voluntarily eating and submitting to medical services.

Ivanov has been in immigration proceedings since November, when he entered the U.S. at a port of entry without proper entry documentation. It is unclear if he is seeking asylum.

He began his hunger strike on Aug. 4. He would drink water but not disclose to medical staff how much or submit to exams to monitor his health, according to government declarations. He lost at least 27 pounds between June and this week.