An Afghan asylum seeker dies the day after being detained by ICE: "His family deserves answers."
Key Takeaways
- Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, an Afghan asylum seeker, died in Dallas less than 24 hours after being arrested by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
- DHS (Department of Homeland Security) says he was taken to Parkland Hospital with breathing problems and later died after his tongue swelled; the department also alleged prior criminal arrests, which the family disputes.
- Paktiawal had a pending asylum application, his residency reportedly expired in August 2025, and he was the primary provider for a wife and six children, the youngest a U.S. citizen.
- The death has prompted a DHS investigation and renewed scrutiny of medical care and transparency in ICE custody. It has been reported that advocacy groups call for full answers.
What happened
Authorities arrested 41-year-old Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal at his home in Texas on the morning of March 13 while he was preparing to take his children to school. The next morning he was declared dead. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a statement that Paktiawal began complaining of shortness of breath and chest pain while in an ICE office and was transferred to Parkland Hospital in Dallas, where he received respiratory treatment and was held overnight for observation. According to DHS, medical staff found his tongue swollen during breakfast the following morning and he was declared dead at 9:10 a.m. after resuscitation attempts.
Official account and family response
DHS described Paktiawal as having prior arrests — including an alleged SNAP fraud arrest in September 2025 and an alleged robbery arrest in November 2025 — language the department used to justify enforcement action. The family disputes those characterizations and it has been reported that they say he was healthy, worked daily at a local halal market, and was the primary breadwinner for a household with six children (the youngest is an 18‑month-old U.S. citizen). It has also been reported that Paktiawal had worked with U.S. forces in Afghanistan for years and arrived in the United States during the 2021 evacuation. Where details conflict, observers and advocates are calling for an independent and transparent review.
Legal and human impact
Paktiawal had a pending asylum application when he was detained. Asylum is the legal process by which people already in the U.S. seek protection from persecution abroad. ICE custody deaths trigger internal DHS reviews and typically a coroner or medical examiner investigation to determine cause of death; ICE is legally required to provide detainees with necessary medical care under detention standards, and failures can lead to civil litigation and policy scrutiny. For families and communities, the immediate impacts are practical and profound: loss of a primary income earner, legal limbo for any ongoing immigration case, and a demand for answers about medical treatment and detention conditions. It has been reported that advocates say this case underscores broader concerns about detention practices and transparency amid expanded enforcement policies.
Source: Original Article