A 41-year-old Afghan man, Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, has died in a hospital in Dallas, Texas less than a day after being taken into custody by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), prompting calls for an investigation.
Paktyawal, who previously worked with US Army Special Forces in Afghanistan, was evacuated to the United States in 2021, where his asylum application remained pending, according to the resettlement group AfghanEvac.
ICE said Paktyawal was arrested during a targeted enforcement operation on Friday and later taken to Parkland Hospital after complaining of chest pain and shortness of breath. Early the next morning, medical staff noticed his tongue had become swollen while he was eating breakfast. Despite emergency medical efforts, he was pronounced dead at 9:10 a.m.
The agency said the cause of death has not yet been determined and that the incident is under investigation.
AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver called for a transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Paktyawal’s detention, medical treatment and death, urging oversight by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General and the US Congress.
Paktyawal, a father of six whose youngest child is 18 months old, had arrived in the United States in August 2021 following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. According to ICE, his temporary parole expired in August 2025. The agency also said he had previously been arrested over alleged fraud and theft related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, although AfghanEvac said the arrests did not lead to criminal charges.
