Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, an Afghan immigrant who had served alongside U.S. military forces in Afghanistan, tragically passed away this past weekend while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas. His death occurred less than a day after federal agents detained him outside his residence, igniting renewed scrutiny over the conditions and treatment of detainees under the current immigration enforcement policies.
Paktyawal, aged 41, was living in a suburban neighborhood of Dallas with his wife and six children as he awaited the outcome of his pending asylum application. On Friday morning, while taking his children to school, he was arrested by ICE agents outside his apartment. The arrest shocked his family and community, especially given his background as a former Afghan special forces soldier who had closely collaborated with U.S. Army Special Forces since 2005. His role in assisting American troops during two decades of conflict in Afghanistan had earned him the opportunity to seek refuge in the United States.
Following his detention, Paktyawal was reportedly taken to a hospital in Dallas later that evening. His family was informed that he was still alive the next morning, but he died shortly thereafter. The exact cause of his death remains unknown, prompting AfghanEvac, a U.S. veteran-led advocacy group dedicated to supporting Afghan evacuees, to demand an immediate and thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding his untimely passing. Shawn VanDiver, the president of AfghanEvac, emphasized the unusual nature of a relatively young and otherwise healthy man dying so soon after being taken into government custody.
This incident marks at least the 12th death of an individual held in ICE detention facilities in 2023, continuing a troubling trend that has escalated under the immigration policies implemented during former President Donald Trump’s administration. Last year alone, 31 detainees died while in ICE custody, the highest number recorded in two decades. ICE has been a central agency in enforcing Trump’s aggressive immigration crackdown, which has led to a significant increase in the number of people held in detention centers across the country.
As of early February, ICE was holding approximately 68,000 individuals, a record high reflecting the agency’s expanded enforcement efforts. Among those affected are thousands of Afghan nationals who arrived in the United States following the chaotic withdrawal of American forces from Afghanistan in 2021. Over 70,000 Afghans were admitted under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Welcome, a humanitarian initiative designed to resettle those who had assisted U.S. efforts in Afghanistan. However, recent moves by U.S. agencies to revoke Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for around 14,600 Afghans have placed many at risk of deportation, further complicating their uncertain futures.
Paktyawal had been working in the Dallas area at an Afghan halal market, serving as the primary breadwinner for his large family, which included an infant just 18 months old. His death has not only devastated his loved ones but has also raised serious questions about the treatment of asylum-seekers and the transparency of ICE detention protocols. Advocates argue that the government must ensure humane conditions and accountability, especially for individuals who have risked their lives in support of U.S. military operations abroad.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, has yet to provide a detailed response regarding Paktyawal’s death, stating that more time is needed to review the case. Meanwhile, human rights organizations and veteran groups continue to call for reforms and greater oversight to prevent further tragedies within the immigration detention system. This case underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Afghan evacuees and other vulnerable populations navigating the complex and often harsh realities of U.S. immigration enforcement.
