Afghan Evacuee Dies After ICE Detention
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, died at Parkland Hospital after being taken into ICE custody; his death is under investigation and advocates call for a full probe.
PBS NewsHourAfghan man who worked with U.S. military dies after being taken into ICE custody in Texas
Al JazeeraOutrage as Afghan asylum seeker who fought alongside US dies in ICE custody
Associated PressAn Afghan man who worked with the US military dies in ICE custody
CNNAfghan man who served alongside US forces dies after less than a day in ICE custody, family and advocates say | CNN Politics
Overview
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, died at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on Saturday after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, officials said.
Paktyawal was arrested during a targeted enforcement action and complained of shortness of breath and chest pain during medical intake at a Dallas ICE field office, the Department of Homeland Security said.
Paktyawal’s family and the advocacy group AfghanEvac said he served alongside U.S. special forces and called for a full investigation, while DHS said he provided no record of military service and ICE said the death is under investigation.
Immigration authorities said Paktyawal had prior arrests tied to alleged SNAP fraud on Sept. 16 and a Nov. 1 arrest for theft, and ICE reported 14 custody deaths from Oct. 1 through Jan. 6 amid enlarged detention populations.
The Dallas County Medical Examiner has not yet released a cause of death, and lawmakers and advocacy groups have demanded answers and a full probe, officials and group leaders said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story around institutional failure and contested accounts, juxtaposing official denials with family advocates and lawmakers. They emphasize inconsistencies (ICE calling him a "criminal" vs. claims of military service), include detention-death statistics, and foreground quotes from advocates and Rep. Julie Johnson to highlight systemic concerns.
FAQ
Paktyawal, 41, was arrested around 7 a.m. on March 13, 2026, by eight masked ICE agents outside his Richardson home as he was taking his six children to school, in a targeted enforcement action.
Paktyawal served alongside U.S. special forces in Afghanistan for over 10 years, was evacuated to the U.S. in 2021, lived in Richardson with his wife and six children, had a pending asylum case, valid work authorization, though ICE said his parole expired in August 2025.
ICE detained him citing prior arrests for SNAP fraud on Sept. 16, 2025, and theft on Nov. 1, 2025, but he was never convicted, and his parole had reportedly expired.
He reported no prior medical issues initially but complained of shortness of breath and chest pains that evening at the ICE Dallas Field Office, was taken to Parkland Hospital for observation, and died Saturday morning after his tongue swelled severely during breakfast; cause of death is pending.
ICE reported 14 custody deaths from Oct. 1, 2025, to Jan. 6, 2026, amid increased detention populations, on pace to exceed prior years' totals of 12 annually.
