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An Afghan Asylum-Seeker Also a U.S Special Forces Employee Dies in ICE Custody
An Afghan asylum-seeker who supported U.S. forces died in ICE custody in Texas shortly after his arrest, prompting calls for an investigation into the circumstances of his death.
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a former Afghan special forces soldier who worked with the U.S. military in Afghanistan, in Texas. By Courtesy of the Paktiawal family
An Afghan asylum-seeker who had previously supported U.S. military operations during the Afghanistan war died on Saturday after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas, according to officials and advocacy groups.
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, passed away at a Dallas hospital less than 24 hours after his arrest, ICE confirmed, adding that the circumstances surrounding his death are currently being investigated. His death is among at least a dozen reported in ICE custody this year.
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Paktyawal had been residing in the Dallas area with his wife and six children while his asylum application was still pending. He was detained Friday morning outside his residence as he was taking his children to school, according to Shawn VanDiver, head of the veteran-supported organization AfghanEvac.
AfghanEvac stated that Paktyawal had served as a member of Afghan special forces and worked closely with U.S. Army Special Forces for more than a decade, beginning in 2005 in Paktika province. His family said he risked his life to support U.S. efforts, believing in bringing stability to Afghanistan.
Following the collapse of the Afghan government in 2021, Paktyawal and his family were evacuated to the United States, where they hoped to build a safer future. ICE said he entered the country through Washington Dulles International Airport on August 21, 2021, and was granted temporary parole status, which expired in August 2025.
He had been resettled with assistance from Catholic Charities and was authorized to work in the U.S., holding a Social Security number, according to AfghanEvac.
ICE reported that Paktyawal experienced medical distress while being held at a Dallas processing facility, complaining of chest pain and difficulty breathing. Emergency services were called, and by the following morning, his condition worsened, including swelling of the tongue. Despite medical intervention, he was pronounced dead.
Advocacy group AfghanEvac has called for a thorough and transparent investigation into the events leading up to his death, including the care he received while in custody.
In its statement, ICE described Paktyawal as an undocumented individual with a criminal record, citing prior arrests in 2025 for alleged fraud and theft. However, AfghanEvac and his family disputed
Those claims, stating that he had not been convicted of any crimes and questioning the accuracy of the allegations.
Editor’s Note:
This incident raises serious questions about detainee treatment, medical response protocols, and accountability within immigration enforcement systems. The case also highlights the broader challenges faced by Afghan allies resettled in the United States after the war, particularly those still navigating complex legal and asylum processes.
