Afghan Veteran’s Ally Dies in ICE Custody in Texas; Family Demands Answers
Why It Matters
The death of a former Afghan special forces soldier in Texas Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody has raised questions about medical care standards in immigration detention facilities. The case adds to a growing national count of deaths in ICE custody during 2025 and into 2026, drawing scrutiny over detainee welfare protocols.
The man, Nazeer Paktyawal, had fought alongside U.S. Special Forces in Afghanistan before being evacuated to the United States following the Taliban’s 2021 takeover. His surviving brother is now publicly demanding accountability from federal immigration authorities.
What Happened
Paktyawal, 41, was taken into ICE custody in the Dallas area on the morning of March 13. According to his brother, Naseer Paktiawal, Paktyawal called shortly after his arrest complaining of fever, body pain, and difficulty breathing. Paktiawal said he traveled to the Dallas ICE processing facility to inquire about his brother’s medical care but said he was told not to worry.
Paktiawal then called an ambulance from outside the building and said he watched it arrive at the facility. He said his brother called him again later, reporting that his condition had worsened and that medics had not examined him. The following morning, on March 14, Paktyawal was declared deceased at Parkland Hospital in Dallas at just after 9 a.m. — approximately 24 hours after his arrest.
ICE issued a press release confirming the time and location of Paktyawal’s death. The agency stated that it does not deny emergency care to individuals in its custody. The city of Dallas did not respond to requests for comment regarding the ambulance call. Capital & Main, the nonprofit publication that originally reported this story, said ICE did not respond to additional questions beyond providing the press release link.
By the Numbers
- 17 — total deaths in ICE custody recorded this year as of the time of reporting, with Paktyawal being the 12th at the time of his death
- 41 — Paktyawal’s age at the time of his death
- 2005 — the year Paktyawal joined Afghanistan’s special forces to support his family after their father’s death
- 2021 — the year Paktyawal was evacuated to the United States following the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan
- $200 or more — the threshold cited in an active felony charge of fraudulent use of food benefits that Dallas County confirmed was pending against Paktyawal at the time of his death
Background: A Record of Service
Paktyawal served as a member of Afghanistan’s special forces, fighting alongside U.S. Special Forces units including the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group. His brother Naseer worked as a translator for U.S. troops beginning in 2010, inspired in part by Nazeer’s service. Both brothers said they believed in the U.S. mission to bring peace and stability to Afghanistan and were willing to sacrifice their lives for it, according to the family.
Naseer Paktiawal received a Special Immigrant Visa and later became a U.S. citizen. Nazeer joined him in Texas in 2021. The two families lived in the same apartment complex and spent time together regularly, including weekend volleyball games with other Afghan men in the community. A friend, Rahmanullah Zazy, described Paktyawal as “hard-working and humble” and said he frequently expressed gratitude for the life his children would have in America, according to Capital & Main’s reporting.
ICE stated that Paktyawal’s immigration parole had expired in August 2025, and that he had been arrested twice in 2025 — once on a charge of food benefits fraud and once on suspicion of misdemeanor theft in Garland, Texas. Naseer Paktiawal disputes those characterizations, saying his brother was innocent and was still legally permitted to remain in the country while awaiting a green card decision from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Zoom Out
Paktyawal’s death is part of a broader pattern drawing national attention to conditions inside immigration detention. At least 17 individuals have now died in ICE custody this year, a figure that immigration enforcement critics and some lawmakers say warrants independent investigation. The case also intersects with ongoing debates over the immigration status of Afghan evacuees, many of whom were admitted on humanitarian parole following the 2021 withdrawal. As federal immigration policy continues to evolve, questions about due process and medical standards in detention facilities remain unresolved.
What’s Next
The Paktyawal family has released a public statement calling for accountability. Naseer Paktiawal said his children witnessed their uncle’s arrest and that “that moment will stay with them forever.” No independent investigation has been publicly announced by ICE or Dallas County authorities as of the time of reporting. The family continues to seek answers about whether proper medical protocols were followed during the hours before Paktyawal’s death.