Afghan Dad Who Fought Alongside U.S. Military Dies Hours Into ICE Custody

An asylum-seeking father of six who fought alongside the U.S. military in Afghanistan died this weekend less than 24 hours after he was detained by federal immigration agents outside his home in the Dallas area.

Mohammad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41, was preparing to drop his children off at school on Friday morning when multiple agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took him in front of his children, according to the man’s family.

“That moment will stay with them forever,” the family said in a Sunday statement, referring to his children, the youngest of whom is 18 months.

While waiting in the hold room at ICE’s Dallas office, Paktyawal began complaining to agents of shortness of breath and chest pains, the agency said. The man also told his family over the phone, and was admitted to Parkland Hospital on Friday night.

Paktyawal was eating breakfast at the hospital on Saturday morning “when medical staff noted that his tongue had become swollen, prompting a medical response,” ICE said in its Sunday statement. He was declared dead “after multiple lifesaving efforts.” A medical investigation into his cause of death is ongoing.

Paktyawal’s family said his death has caused them “deep shock and pain.”

“We still cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man,” the family said. “His children keep asking when their father will come home.”

Paktyawal’s family friend, Marwa Zazay, has since launched a GoFundMe to help support his family. The fundraiser has raised more than $141,000 so far.

Paktyawal served as an Afghan special forces soldier starting in 2005 and was among the group of Afghans working with U.S. forces in Afghanistan for over a decade, according to the nonprofit AfghanEvac. He was evacuated to the U.S. in August 2021, and was running a bakery in Richardson, Texas, while his asylum case made its way through the system.

“The United States made a promise to the Afghans who stood with us. Honoring that promise requires transparency, accountability and dignity in how they are treated here at home,” AfghanEvac President Shawn VanDiver said in a statement. “This moment demands nothing less.”

ICE wrongfully labeled Paktyawal a “criminal illegal alien” in its statement, despite him and his family residing in the U.S. legally and complying with the immigration process. The agency cited prior arrests tied to accusations of fraud and theft, though AfghanEvac says those incidents never resulted in criminal charges or convictions.

“Detention does not erase a person’s humanity. Every individual in custody must be treated with dignity, safety and respect,” CAIR-Texas DFW Executive Director Mustafaa Carroll said in a statement. “We call on all authorities to ensure a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Paktiawal’s detention and death.”

The House Homeland Security Committee did not respond to a HuffPost request for comment as to whether it will look into Paktyawal’s case.