Federal authorities are investigating the death of Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old man who died less than a day after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in North Texas.
According to ICE, Paktyawal was arrested Friday during an enforcement operation in Richardson and later processed at the agency’s Dallas Field Office. Officials said he began experiencing chest pain and shortness of breath, prompting his transfer to Parkland Hospital, where he received treatment and remained overnight.
The following morning, medical staff reportedly noticed severe swelling of his tongue, triggering an emergency response. Despite multiple life-saving efforts, Paktyawal was pronounced dead shortly after 9 a.m. The cause of death remains under investigation.
Paktyawal’s death has sparked conflicting accounts about his background. Members of the local Afghan community remember him as a father of six and a former wartime ally who assisted U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Advocacy group AfghanEvac said he worked with U.S. Special Forces and was evacuated to the United States following the fall of Kabul in 2021. The group has called for an independent investigation into his death.
However, ICE described Paktyawal as a “criminal illegal alien,” citing prior arrests for fraud and theft and stating that he provided no record of military service upon entering the country. That characterization has been strongly disputed by advocates, who say they have documentation supporting his service.
The case has left many in the Afghan community shaken, as family, friends, and supporters seek answers about the circumstances surrounding his sudden death.
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