Afghan National Dies in ICE Custody Less Than a Day After Arrest

An Afghan man died in a Texas hospital less than 24 hours after being taken into the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency said on Sunday, sparking calls for an investigation.

The man, identified as 41-year-old Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, had previously worked with US Army Special Forces in Afghanistan. He was evacuated to the United States in 2021, where his asylum application remains pending, according to AfghanEvac, an organisation that assists with the resettlement of Afghans in the US.

ICE said Paktyawal was arrested during a targeted enforcement operation on Friday and was later taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas, after complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains.

According to the agency, medical staff noticed early on March 14 that Paktyawal’s tongue had become swollen while he was eating breakfast, prompting an emergency response. Despite several attempts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at 9:10 a.m.

ICE said the cause of death has not yet been determined and that the incident is under active investigation. The agency also noted that Paktyawal did not report any prior medical conditions when he was arrested.

AfghanEvac called for an immediate and transparent inquiry into the circumstances surrounding his detention, medical treatment, and death, including oversight by the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general and the US Congress.

Paktyawal’s family described him as a father of six, with his youngest child just 18 months old.

“We still cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man,” the family said in a statement shared by AfghanEvac.

Last week, the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination criticised ICE for what it described as the excessive use of force during immigration enforcement operations, noting that at least eight people have died during ICE operations or while in custody since January.

ICE said Paktyawal entered the United States in August 2021 and that his parole status expired in August 2025.

The agency also stated that he had been arrested twice last year over allegations related to fraud and theft involving the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food assistance to low-income households.

AfghanEvac said those arrests did not lead to criminal charges and that, based on currently available information, Paktyawal had not been convicted of any crimes.

During the 20-year international presence in Afghanistan, hundreds of thousands of Afghans worked with foreign military forces, diplomatic missions, and US-funded organisations. Many later feared they could face retaliation, including from the Taliban.

The United Nations has previously reported cases of extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances involving former Afghan officials under Taliban rule, despite the group’s declared amnesty for former adversaries.

According to the US State Department, more than 190,000 Afghans have been resettled in the United States since the Taliban returned to power.