Afghan Man Dies in ICE Custody Less Than 24 Hours After Arrest

An Afghan man died in a Texas hospital less than a day after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as announced by the agency on March 15, sparking demands for a thorough investigation.

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, collaborated with U.S. Army Special Forces in Afghanistan and was brought to the United States in 2021. His asylum request is currently under review, as reported by AfghanEvac, an organization that assists Afghan evacuees in the U.S.

According to ICE, Paktyawal was apprehended during a focused enforcement action on March 13 and was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas, after he experienced breathing difficulties and chest pain.

On the morning of March 14, while having breakfast, medical personnel observed that his tongue was swelling, which initiated a medical response. Despite various life-saving attempts, he was pronounced dead at 9:10 AM, as stated by ICE.

The agency has not disclosed a specific cause of death and noted that Paktyawal's case is currently under active investigation. They added that he did not report any existing medical issues at the time of his arrest.

Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, has called for an immediate and transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his detention, medical treatment, and subsequent death, including oversight from the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and Congress.

Paktyawal was a father of six, with his youngest child only 18 months old, according to a statement from his family shared by AfghanEvac.

His family expressed disbelief over the incident, stating, "We still cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man."

Recently, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination criticized ICE for the "excessive use of force during immigration enforcement operations," noting that at least eight individuals have died during ICE operations or while in custody since January.

ICE clarified that Paktyawal entered the U.S. in August 2021, with his parole set to expire in August 2025. Additionally, they indicated that he had been arrested twice in the previous year for alleged fraud and theft concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which assists low-income families with food purchases.

AfghanEvac stated that these arrests did not lead to any criminal charges and emphasized that Paktyawal had not been convicted of any crimes, based on available information.