Afghan Veteran Dies in ICE Custody After Richardson Arrest

Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old former Afghan special forces soldier who spent years fighting alongside U.S. Army Special Forces, died Saturday at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas less than 24 hours after federal immigration agents arrested him outside his Richardson apartment while he was taking his children to school.

Paktyawal had worked with U.S. forces since 2005 and was evacuated from Afghanistan with his family in 2021 following the American withdrawal. He settled in Richardson, where he lived with his wife and six children, including an 18-month-old infant, and worked at an Afghan halal market in the Dallas area. He had a pending asylum case at the time of his death.

According to AfghanEvac, a veteran-led advocacy group in contact with the family, agents in unmarked vehicles surrounded Paktyawal and arrested him Friday morning in front of his children. He later contacted family members from ICE custody to say he was not feeling well. He was admitted to Parkland Memorial Hospital at approximately 11:45 p.m. Friday night. Family members said they were informed of his death around noon Saturday.

AfghanEvac president Shawn VanDiver called for an immediate investigation. "It is highly unusual for an otherwise healthy 41-year-old man to die less than a day after being taken into government custody, and the circumstances surrounding his detention and medical care raise urgent questions," VanDiver said. In a separate interview, VanDiver was more direct: "This man fought our war for 10 years. He had six kids, one of whom is an American citizen. He was brought here by the United States of America. He's been working hard in Texas, paying taxes. He was doing everything right."

The cause of death remains unknown. Wendi Hawthorne, a spokeswoman for Parkland Health, said federal law prohibits the hospital from discussing patient information and referred questions to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS, which oversees ICE, said it needed more time to respond to requests for comment.

Paktyawal's death comes as ICE detention numbers have climbed to record levels, with approximately 68,000 people in federal immigration custody as of early February. He is at least the 12th person to die in ICE detention this calendar year. Last year, 31 people died in ICE custody, a two-decade high. More than 70,000 Afghans entered the United States under Operation Allies Welcome following the 2021 Taliban takeover of Kabul, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Paktyawal leaves behind his wife and six children in Richardson. The Dallas County Medical Examiner has not yet publicly confirmed whether an autopsy will be conducted.