An Afghan immigrant who previously worked with the U.S. military in Afghanistan died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody less than 24 hours after being detained in Texas, a veteran-led advocacy group said Sunday. The case where an Afghan asylum seeker dies ICE custody has sparked outrage and demands for a transparent investigation. Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, was living in a Dallas suburb with his wife and six children while his asylum case remained pending .
Federal agents arrested Paktyawal outside his apartment on Friday morning while he was taking his children to school, according to AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver . His family watched as agents in unmarked vehicles surrounded and detained him . Paktyawal died of unknown causes on Saturday, approximately 24 hours after his arrest .
Medical Emergency Details
ICE provided a statement saying Paktyawal complained of shortness of breath and chest pains while in a processing room at the Dallas Field Office late Friday . Emergency services transported him to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where he received breathing treatment and doctors recommended overnight observation . On Saturday morning around 8 a.m., family received word he was still alive .
Around 9:10 a.m., medical staff noted his tongue had become swollen while eating breakfast, prompting emergency response . After multiple resuscitation attempts, physicians declared him dead . ICE said Paktyawal did not report any prior medical history upon arrest . The agency confirmed his death is under active investigation .
Background and Service Record
Paktyawal served for more than a decade as an Afghan special forces soldier beginning in 2005, working alongside U.S. Army Special Forces units in Paktika province . He and his family were evacuated from Afghanistan on August 30, 2021, during the U.S. withdrawal, entering through Washington Dulles International Airport . His parole authorization expired in August 2025 .
In the Dallas area, Paktyawal worked at an Afghan halal market and bakery, serving as the primary provider for his six children, including an 18-month-old infant . One child is a U.S. citizen . His family described him as “a loving husband and father” who “worked hard every day to take care of them and build a future” .
Prior Arrests and Legal Status
ICE stated Paktyawal was arrested twice in 2025 for fraud and theft related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program . AfghanEvac said those arrests did not result in criminal charges and he had no convictions . He had completed an asylum interview and was living with work authorization and a Social Security number .
The Afghan asylum seeker dies ICE custody amid broader concerns about detention conditions. At least 12 people have died in ICE custody this year under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown . In 2025, 31 people died after detention, a two-decade high . ICE currently holds approximately 68,000 people, up from about 32,700 in August 2023 .
Investigation Demands
AfghanEvac called for an immediate, transparent investigation into the circumstances of his detention, medical care, and death, including oversight by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and Congress . VanDiver stated: “It is highly unusual for an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man to die less than a day after being taken into government custody” .
The Council on American-Islamic Relations also demanded a full investigation, criticizing ICE for focusing on Paktyawal’s immigration status rather than addressing concerns about his death . The family statement expressed heartbreak: “We still cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man. His children keep asking when their father will come home” .
Broader Context
More than 70,000 Afghans entered the U.S. under former President Joe Biden’s Operation Allies Welcome initiative following the Taliban takeover in 2021 . Trump administration agencies have moved to terminate temporary protected status for some 14,600 Afghans, potentially opening them to deportation .
The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination recently condemned ICE for “excessive use of force during immigration enforcement operations,” noting at least eight people have died during operations or in custody since January . Paktyawal’s death adds to growing concerns about medical care and conditions in detention facilities as immigration enforcement intensifies .
The Afghan asylum seeker dies ICE custody leaving behind a grieving family seeking answers. His wife and six children now face an uncertain future without their primary provider. As investigations proceed, advocates continue pressing for accountability and transparency in a system they say has failed to protect those in government custody .
