Afghan War Veteran Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal Dies in ICE Custody in Texas

Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan war veteran and former special forces soldier who collaborated with U.S. troops, died less than 24 hours after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Dallas, Texas, on March 13, 2023, according to reports from Reason Magazine and Raw Story. He was taken into custody at his home while preparing to take his six children to school.

Paktyawal’s family and advocacy groups, including AfghanEvac, have raised urgent questions about the circumstances surrounding his sudden death, as highlighted by Truthout and The Guardian. His family states he was in good health before the detention, and his death while in custody has fueled demands for a thorough investigation into ICE’s treatment of detainees.

ICE confirmed that Paktyawal experienced shortness of breath and chest pain, leading to his transfer to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where he died. The New Republic emphasizes his previous parole into the U.S. under Operation Allies Refuge, granted for his military collaboration, framing his detention and death as especially troubling given his service.

Veterans organizations and human rights advocates have expressed outrage, urging federal authorities to conduct a transparent review of detention protocols and mortality rates at ICE facilities, as Raw Story and Reason Magazine report. The case has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities of Afghan refugees in immigration custody and the need for improved oversight.

Authorities have not yet released a definitive cause of death, and the investigation remains ongoing. Observers are closely watching for the findings of federal inquiries and any policy changes that may stem from this case regarding the treatment of veterans and asylum seekers in ICE detention.