A 41-year-old Afghan man who previously worked with U.S. military forces in Afghanistan has died less than 24 hours after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompting calls for an investigation from his family and advocacy groups.
The man, identified as Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, had been living in the Dallas suburb of Richardson, Texas, with his wife and six children while awaiting a decision on his asylum application in the United States. He had been evacuated from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover in 2021 after reportedly supporting U.S. military operations for years.
According to officials, Paktyawal was detained by ICE during a targeted enforcement action on the morning of March 13 as he prepared to take his children to school. Authorities said he did not report any serious medical history during processing after the arrest.
Later that day, he began experiencing symptoms including chest pain and shortness of breath while in custody. He was transported to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for treatment. Paktyawal died the following morning after a sudden medical emergency, though the exact cause of death has not yet been determined.
ICE said the arrest was related to allegations of fraud involving the government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and a prior theft arrest, though reports indicate he had not been convicted of those charges.
Family members and advocacy organizations, including the veterans-led group AfghanEvac, say Paktyawal had been healthy and are demanding a full investigation into the circumstances of his detention and medical care. They argue it is highly unusual for a healthy 41-year-old to die so soon after being taken into custody.
Paktyawal’s death marks at least the twelfth reported fatality in ICE detention this year, raising renewed concerns about conditions in immigration facilities and the treatment of asylum seekers in the United States.
