Afghan Immigrant Dies in ICE Custody Amid Ongoing Investigations

Mon Mar 16 2026 19:35:54 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a former Afghan military ally in the U.S. war effort, was in ICE custody when he suddenly fell ill and died. His family seeks answers as investigations continue.

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, aged 41, an Afghan immigrant who worked with U.S. forces, passed away in Dallas after being detained by ICE. His cause of death is under investigation. Paktyawal's family expresses disbelief over his death, claiming he was healthy prior to his detention. The incident raises concerns over the health and safety conditions in immigration detention centers.

Afghan Immigrant Dies in ICE Custody Amid Ongoing Investigations

HOUSTON (PulseWire) — Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan immigrant who allegedly worked alongside U.S. forces, died at Parkland Hospital in Dallas following his detention by immigration authorities, raising serious concerns about ICE's practices.

Paktyawal was in custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when he began suffering from shortness of breath and chest pains. Medical personnel attempted to revive him after he was found unresponsive, but he was pronounced dead the next morning.

His family is in shock, stating, He was a strong and healthy man... His children keep asking when their father will come home. The circumstances surrounding his death are puzzling, as reported by family members and ICE officials.

Paktyawal had been detained due to accusations of fraud related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as well as past theft charges. The agency noted that at the time of his arrest, he did not report any prior medical issues.

After his detention on Friday, he exhibited alarming symptoms, prompting immediate medical attention at Parkland Hospital, where he passed away after all attempts to save him failed.

ICE has stated that Paktyawal's death is under investigation. He had fled Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover after U.S. troop withdrawal in 2021, arriving in the U.S. as a refugee.

During his time in the U.S., Paktyawal lived in Richardson, Texas, with his wife and six children while awaiting the outcome of his asylum case. His death adds to the rising alarm over the treatment of detainees, particularly as deaths in ICE custody have allegedly surged since the Trump administration's policies increased detentions.

Paktyawal's story underscores the vulnerability of those who sacrificed for U.S. interests abroad, as many officials and advocates continue to call for reforms in immigrant detention policies to ensure safety and humane treatment.