HOUSTON (AP) — Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, an Afghan immigrant who worked with U.S. forces in his native country, tragically died at a Texas hospital after being detained by immigration authorities.
Paktyawal, who was 41, passed away at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on Saturday morning, just one day following his arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While the cause of death remains pending, his family has stated that he was not ill prior to his detention.
“We still cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and a strong and healthy man. His children keep asking when their father will come home,” the family expressed in a statement.
ICE reported that Paktyawal was arrested on allegations of committing fraud against SNAP, the government’s food aid program. His previous arrests included theft allegations. Paktyawal was said to have no known medical history at the time of his arrest.
However, after being detained, he began experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains, prompting his transfer to Parkland Hospital where he was treated overnight. Despite multiple lifesaving efforts, he died the following morning.
“His passing is currently under active investigation,” ICE stated.
Paktyawal had served alongside U.S. military special forces in Afghanistan and came to the United States as a refugee following the withdrawal of U.S. troops and the Taliban's takeover in August 2021. According to #AfghanEvac, a group aiding Afghan resettlement, Paktyawal was living with his family in Richardson, a Dallas suburb, while waiting for his asylum claim to be processed.
He was a married father of six, and his death highlights increasing concerns regarding the treatment of individuals in ICE custody.
Deaths of detainees in ICE facilities have risen during the current administration. The agency reported 14 custody-related deaths from October 1 to January 6, with numbers on track to exceed previous years. This alarming trend raises serious concerns regarding health and safety standards within detention centers.
Paktyawal's tragic passing leaves his family in mourning and raises questions about accountability for those in immigration custody.
