Afghan Asylum Seeker Dies in ICE Custody Less Than 24 Hours After Detention
An Afghan immigrant who previously worked with the United States military in Afghanistan has died in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody less than 24 hours after being detained in Texas, according to an advocacy group. The incident raises serious concerns about the safety and treatment of individuals in federal immigration detention.
Details of the Tragic Incident
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, was arrested by federal agents outside his apartment in a Dallas suburb on Friday morning while taking his children to school. He was living in Richardson, Texas, with his wife and six children while his asylum case remained pending. According to Shawn VanDiver, president of the military veteran-led group AfghanEvac, Paktyawal died of unknown causes on Saturday.
In a statement on Sunday, ICE reported that Paktyawal was eating breakfast when medical staff noted his tongue had become swollen, prompting a medical response. He was declared dead after multiple attempts at resuscitation. The agency stated it is "committed to ensuring that all those in custody reside in safe, secure, and humane environments." However, VanDiver revealed that Paktyawal's family was told he was taken to a hospital in Dallas on the night of his arrest, was still alive the following morning, but then died shortly after.
Background and Advocacy Calls
Paktyawal was a former Afghan special forces soldier who had worked alongside US army special forces since 2005. He was evacuated from Afghanistan with his family in 2021 when the United States withdrew its military after a two-decade war. In the Dallas area, he worked at an Afghan halal market and was the primary provider for his family, including an 18-month-old infant.
AfghanEvac has called for an immediate investigation into his death. VanDiver emphasized, "It is highly unusual for an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man to die less than a day after being taken into government custody." This death highlights ongoing issues within the immigration detention system.
Broader Context of ICE Detentions
Paktyawal is at least the 12th person to die in ICE detention so far this year amid the Donald Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Last year, 31 people died after being detained by ICE, marking a two-decade high. ICE has played a central role in Trump's policy of mass deportations, with the number of people detained rising to record levels. As of early February, ICE had about 68,000 people in custody.
More than 70,000 Afghans entered the US during Joe Biden's presidency under the Operation Allies Welcome initiative after the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021, according to the Department of Homeland Security. However, federal agencies under Trump have moved to terminate temporary protected status previously granted for humanitarian reasons to about 14,600 Afghans, opening them up to deportation.
This case underscores the volatile and often dangerous conditions faced by asylum seekers and immigrants in the US, particularly those with ties to American military operations abroad. The advocacy group's demand for transparency and accountability reflects growing public scrutiny over immigration enforcement practices.
