Afghan War Veteran Dies After One Day in ICE Custody

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, died on March 14 after being detained the previous day in the Dallas area.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 10:25am

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An Afghan asylum seeker who had previously worked alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan died just over 24 hours after being taken into ICE custody in Texas, according to family members and an advocacy group. Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, died on March 14 after being detained the previous day in the Dallas area. The cause of death has not been publicly confirmed, and Paktyawal is at least the 12th person to die in ICE custody in 2026.

Why it matters

Paktyawal's death in ICE custody raises concerns about the treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers, especially those with military service backgrounds, and the increasing number of in-custody deaths in recent years as the detained population has grown.

The details

Paktyawal had been living in Richardson, Texas, with his wife and six children while his asylum application remained pending. He was detained around 7 a.m. on March 13 outside his apartment while preparing to drive his children to school. Several federal agents in unmarked vehicles approached him and took him into custody in front of his children. Paktyawal served for more than a decade as an Afghan special forces soldier beginning in 2005, and he worked alongside U.S. Army Special Forces units during the war in Afghanistan. He and his family were evacuated from Afghanistan by the United States on August 30, 2021, during the U.S. withdrawal from the country.

  • Paktyawal was detained around 7 a.m. on March 13 outside his apartment.
  • Around 11:45 p.m. on March 13, he was admitted to Parkland Hospital in Dallas.
  • Around 8 a.m. on March 14, relatives were told he was still alive.
  • By about noon on March 14, family members said they were informed that he had died.

The players

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal

A 41-year-old Afghan asylum seeker who had previously worked alongside U.S. forces in Afghanistan.

AfghanEvac

An advocacy group that shared information about Paktyawal's case.

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What they’re saying

“Nazeer was a loving husband and father. His children adored him, and he worked hard every day to take care of them and build a future for them in the United States.”

— Paktyawal family

“For many years Nazeer worked alongside American forces during the war in Afghanistan. It was dangerous work, but he believed in helping bring stability to his country and protecting the people around him.”

— Paktyawal family

What’s next

The family and advocacy groups are calling for a full, independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Paktyawal's death.

The takeaway

Paktyawal's death in ICE custody highlights ongoing concerns about the treatment of immigrants and asylum seekers, especially those with military service backgrounds, and the need for greater accountability and transparency in the immigration detention system.