Afghan Man Who Served with US Forces Dies in ICE Custody

Family says 41-year-old father of six had no known health issues prior to his death

Mar. 16, 2026 at 4:06pm

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An Afghan man who served alongside U.S. special forces and fled his native country after the Taliban takeover died shortly after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) outside his Dallas-area apartment. Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, died on Saturday, less than a day after his arrest, with his family saying he had no known health conditions. ICE said Paktyawal complained of shortness of breath and chest pains during his medical intake and was taken to a hospital, where his condition deteriorated and he died after receiving CPR.

Why it matters

Paktyawal's death has prompted grief in the Afghan diaspora community in Texas, where many of the over 190,000 Afghans who fled to the U.S. after the Taliban takeover have settled. It has also raised questions about the treatment of Afghan refugees, some of whom served alongside U.S. forces, by immigration authorities.

The details

Paktyawal was arrested by ICE during a "targeted enforcement operation" on Friday. The Department of Homeland Security said his humanitarian parole had expired last August. ICE said Paktyawal did not report any prior medical history, but his family and an advocacy group said he had no known health conditions. The initial medical examiner's report listed no cause or manner of death.

  • Paktyawal was arrested by ICE on Friday, March 15, 2026.
  • Paktyawal died on Saturday, March 16, 2026, less than 24 hours after his arrest.

The players

Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal

A 41-year-old Afghan man who served alongside U.S. special forces and fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. He died in ICE custody shortly after being detained.

Naseer Paktyawal

The brother of Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, who described his brother as a "hero".

Rahmanullah Zazy

A leader in the Dallas-area Afghan community who knew Paktyawal and his family.

Shawn VanDiver

The president of the advocacy group AfghanEvac, which provided a certificate of service indicating Paktyawal served alongside U.S. special forces.

Lauren Bis

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security.

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What they’re saying

“They're saying they took our community member alive to the detention center, and now we are getting the dead body. We want peace.”

— Rahmanullah Zazy, Leader in the Dallas-area Afghan community

“We don't know how he died. We just know he's dead.”

— Shawn VanDiver, President of AfghanEvac

“He was here, and he just got killed in less than 24 hours.”

— Naseer Paktyawal, Brother of Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal

What’s next

The Dallas County Medical Examiner's office is expected to release the cause and manner of Paktyawal's death in the coming days.

The takeaway

This tragic incident has raised serious concerns about the treatment of Afghan refugees, some of whom risked their lives to assist U.S. forces, by immigration authorities. It underscores the need for greater transparency and accountability in the handling of detainees in ICE custody.