Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan refugee and father of six, died less than a day after being taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in North Texas.Paktyawal was detained on the morning of March 13 outside his home in Richardson, Texas, as he was preparing to take his children to school. According to his family, he managed to call his brother shortly after his arrest, saying he was unwell and in pain.That same night, ICE officials said he complained of shortness of breath and chest pain while at a processing facility and was taken to a Dallas hospital. By the next morning, his condition had worsened, with reports of tongue swelling, and despite medical efforts, he was pronounced dead on March 14.The exact cause of death remains under investigation.
‘I just want answers’: Family’s grief and anger
Paktyawal’s death has left his family devastated, and searching for answers.His 12-year-old son, Imrain, expressed his grief in simple but powerful words: “He was a hero… and he will always be a hero,” he told CBS News.“I just want answers for my dad… I want to know why he died. He was healthy,” he added. His brother, Naseer Paktyawal, recounted their final conversation, saying Mohammad sounded frightened and repeatedly said he was not feeling well.“He was my best friend since birth… They took everything from me, from his family, from those six kids,” Naseer told The Independent. “Nobody’s answering… why is he dead?” he said.The family says they were given no clear explanation for his detention or the circumstances leading to his death.
A rising toll in ICE custody
Paktyawal’s death is among a growing number of fatalities in ICE detention. He is reported to be the 12th detainee to die this year, with overall deaths in custody sharply increasing compared to previous years.In 2025, 31 detainees died, the highest number in two decades, amid a surge in detention numbers driven by stricter immigration enforcement.
Questions over legal status and allegations
According to the Department of Homeland Security, Paktyawal entered the United States legally in 2021 under a humanitarian parole programme following the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. His temporary status expired in August 2025.Authorities said he had been arrested in Texas on allegations of fraud involving food assistance benefits and theft. However, officials confirmed that these cases had not been adjudicated at the time of his death.His family disputes the characterization of him as a criminal, emphasizing that he was in the process of seeking asylum and had complied with legal procedures.
A life shaped by war and migration
Paktyawal’s family says he spent nearly a decade serving alongside US forces in Afghanistan, including in dangerous regions like Paktika province. After the Taliban takeover in 2021, he and his family were evacuated to the US, where he rebuilt his life, working at a bakery while awaiting the outcome of his asylum application.While US authorities say they have no record of his military service, his family has presented documents and personal accounts to support their claim.Paktyawal’s death has intensified scrutiny of ICE detention practices, particularly around medical care and transparency.For now, Paktyawal’s family says their only demand is clarity.
