An additional three immigrant detainees who are on a hunger strike in Texas are now being force-fed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to The Associated Press.

The AP reported that there are now nine men who are being force-fed under court order, up from the six men as of last week. The AP reported that ICE last month received court orders to begin the force-feeding.

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One detainee who is being force-fed, identified only as Singh, described the process to the AP.

“They tie us on the force-feeding bed, and then they put a lot of liquid into the tubes, and the pressure is immense so we end up vomiting it out,” said Singh. “We can’t talk properly, and we can’t breathe properly. The pipe is not an easy process, but they try to push it down our noses and throats.”

Singh added that he has lost 50 pounds since he began the hunger strike more than one month ago.

Strikers have previously said they are striking to protest detentions and verbal abuses from ICE officials.

ICE said in a statement to the AP that it respects the rights of the detainees to strike.

“ICE does not retaliate in any way against hunger strikers. ICE explains the negative health effects of not eating to our detainees. For their health and safety, ICE closely monitors the food and water intake of those detainees identified as being on a hunger strike,” ICE said.