Afghan Father Who Fought Alongside U.S. Troops Dies in ICE Custody Within 24 Hours

Afghan Refugee Who Served With U.S. Military Dies Less Than 24 Hours After ICE Arrest in Texas

Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, a 41 year old Afghan national who reportedly served alongside U.S. Army Special Forces for over a decade, died at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on March 14, 2026. He had been in ICE custody for less than 24 hours.

ICE agents detained Paktiawal outside his home in Richardson, Texas, on the morning of March 13, while he was preparing to take four of his six children to school. The arrest was described by the agency as a "targeted enforcement action."

That evening, while in a processing hold room at the ICE Dallas Field Office, Paktiawal began complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains. Emergency Medical Services transported him to Parkland Hospital, where an ER doctor recommended he remain for observation.

Early the next morning, medical staff noted his tongue had become swollen while he was eating breakfast. He received an epinephrine drip, but his condition deteriorated. Despite multiple lifesaving efforts, including CPR, he was pronounced dead at 9:10 a.m.

ICE stated that Paktiawal reported no prior medical history at the time of his arrest. A preliminary report from the Dallas County Medical Examiner did not list a cause or manner of death. The agency confirmed the death is under active investigation.

I want justice for my brother. I don't need anything else from this government.

Those were the words of Naseer Paktiawal, Mohammad's brother, who told CBS News that Mohammad was "a hero to his family, to his people, and to his country." Mohammad arrived in the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Refuge, the Biden administration's evacuation program for Afghans following the Taliban takeover. His parole expired in August 2025.

ICE Investigation Into Death of Afghan U.S. Military Ally Raises Questions About Custody Conditions

ICE noted that Paktiawal had arrests in September 2025 for SNAP fraud and in November 2025 for theft, but advocates have challenged these characterizations. Shawn VanDiver, president of #AfghanEvac, pushed back sharply on the government's framing.

Calling a man a criminal without a conviction while claiming there is no record of service without checking interagency systems looks less like fact finding and more like damage control.

VanDiver questioned why DHS claimed no military service record existed, noting that the Department of Defense, State Department, and Special Immigrant Visa processes would maintain such documentation. A DHS spokesperson stated that opening an investigation does not indicate wrongdoing, calling it "standard procedure."

Paktiawal is survived by his wife and six children.

The Crusader's Opinion

This man served shoulder to shoulder with American soldiers for over a decade, risking his life so our troops could come home safe. He was promised protection. He was given parole into this country under the banner of American honor. And now he is dead, less than a day after being taken into custody, leaving behind a wife and six children who will never see their father again. Whatever your position on immigration enforcement, a man who bled alongside our warriors deserved better than to die in a processing room. If we cannot protect those who protected us, what does our word mean to anyone? Justice demands a full, transparent accounting of every hour between his arrest and his death.

Take Action

• Demand Answers: Contact your U.S. Representative and Senators. Ask them to call for a full, transparent investigation into Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal's death in ICE custody. Find your representatives at congress.gov.
• Support Afghan Allies: Organizations like #AfghanEvac are advocating for Afghans who served alongside U.S. forces. Follow their work and amplify their message.
• Donate: Support refugee families through The Shepherd's Shield, which provides direct aid to persecuted and displaced Christian and allied communities.
• Pray: Pray for the Paktiawal family as they grieve, especially his wife and six children. Pray for justice, transparency, and for leaders to honor the sacrifices of those who stood with America.
• Share: Share this story on social media. Ask why a man who served with U.S. Special Forces for a decade died in a government holding room within hours of his arrest. Demand that this not be swept under the rug.