Afghan Refugee Who Aided U.S. Forces Dies in ICE Custody at Texas Hospital

A 41-year-old Afghan refugee who worked alongside U.S. military forces died at a Dallas hospital after being detained by immigration officials. Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal developed breathing problems and chest pain while in custody, dying despite medical efforts.

A 41-year-old Afghan refugee who assisted U.S. military forces in his homeland has died at a Dallas-area hospital following his detention by federal immigration officials, authorities confirmed.

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal passed away at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on Saturday morning, just one day after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers took him into custody.

Medical officials have not yet determined what caused his death. However, Paktyawal’s relatives say he showed no signs of illness before his arrest.

“We still cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man. His children keep asking when their father will come home,” the family said in statement.

According to ICE officials, Paktyawal faced arrest on September 16th for allegedly defrauding SNAP, the nation’s largest food assistance program. The agency also arrested him on November 1st on theft charges.

During his Friday arrest and intake procedures, Paktyawal did not mention any existing health conditions, ICE reported.

While being held in an ICE Dallas field office processing room Friday evening, Paktyawal started experiencing difficulty breathing and chest pain, officials said. Emergency responders transported him to Parkland Hospital where medical staff treated him overnight.

Saturday morning, hospital staff observed that Paktyawal’s tongue had swollen while he was eating breakfast. Medical personnel attempted numerous life-saving procedures, but he died at 9:10 a.m., ICE stated.

“His passing is currently under active investigation,” ICE said.

Paktyawal had previously worked with U.S. military special operations forces in Afghanistan before arriving in America as a refugee after U.S. forces withdrew and the Taliban regained control in August 2021, according to #AfghanEvac, a San Diego organization that assists Afghan allies in resettling.

The father of six was residing in Richardson, a Dallas suburb, with his family while awaiting resolution of his asylum application, #AfghanEvac reported.

Fatalities in ICE detention facilities have increased dramatically during Trump’s current presidency.

The agency documented 14 deaths in custody between October 1st and January 6th of the current fiscal year, putting it on track to exceed last year’s total of 24 deaths. ICE recorded 12 custody deaths during fiscal year 2024 and 12 deaths total across the previous three years.

ICE has expanded its detention population to over 70,000 individuals from approximately 40,000 when Trump’s second term began. The agency plans to allocate $38.3 billion to increase capacity to 92,600 beds by November’s end, including converted warehouse facilities designed to hold up to 10,000 detainees each.