Afghan Evacuee and Former U.S. Military Ally Dies in ICE Custody in Texas
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, an Afghan evacuee who advocacy groups say served alongside U.S. special forces, came to the U.S. after the 2021 withdrawal, lived in Richardson, Texas, and had a pending asylum case when he died in ICE custody following a targeted enforcement action in North Texas. ICE says he was arrested Friday, reported no medical history, complained of shortness of breath and chest pain that night, was taken to Parkland Hospital, found with a swollen tongue while eating breakfast Saturday, and died at 9:10 a.m.; ICE records also cite recent arrests for SNAP fraud and theft, and the case comes amid a recent surge in ICE deaths and a large expansion in detention capacity.
📌 Key Facts
- The deceased was identified with the variant spelling Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal; he was an Afghan evacuee who says he served alongside U.S. special forces, came to the U.S. after the 2021 withdrawal, lived in Richardson, Texas, and had a pending asylum case.
- ICE says he was arrested during a targeted enforcement action on Friday, initially reported no medical history, and later that night complained of shortness of breath and chest pain while in a hold room at the ICE Dallas field office before being transported to Parkland Hospital.
- According to ICE, he was kept overnight at Parkland, was found with a swollen tongue while eating breakfast Saturday, multiple life‑saving efforts were attempted, and his time of death was recorded at 9:10 a.m.
- ICE provided what it described as his recent criminal history: an arrest for SNAP fraud on Sept. 16 and an arrest for theft on Nov. 1.
- Reporting places this death in broader context of rising deaths in ICE custody—14 between Oct. 1 and Jan. 6 (compared with 24 in the entire previous fiscal year and 12 in each of the three prior years)—and notes that ICE detention capacity has risen from about 40,000 at the start of the prior administration to over 70,000, with a planned $38.3 billion expansion to 92,600 beds.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2025, 32 people died in ICE custody, with Mexicans accounting for 8 deaths (25%), Chinese for 3 (9.4%), Hondurans for 3 (9.4%), and other nationalities making up the rest, such as 2 Haitians and 1 from each of several countries including Ukraine, Ethiopia, and Pakistan.
2025 was ICE’s deadliest year in two decades. Here are the 32 people who died in custody — The Guardian
Allegations of medical neglect, including ignored symptoms like fainting spells, chest pains, and deteriorating health conditions, as well as delayed medical responses, were reported in at least 9 of the 32 ICE custody deaths in 2025.
2025 was ICE’s deadliest year in two decades. Here are the 32 people who died in custody — The Guardian
Approximately 80,000 Afghans were evacuated to the United States in 2021 under Operation Allies Refuge following the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, with many facing ongoing asylum backlogs and temporary status like humanitarian parole that requires extensions.
Vetting of 80,000+ Afghans Brought to America Failed the National Security Test — The Heritage Foundation
The foreign-born population in Richardson, Texas, was 22.4% between 2020 and 2024, with 53% of foreign-born residents originating from Asia.
Richardson, TX - Profile data — Census Reporter
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Confirms additional spelling/identification detail for the deceased as Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal (variant of previously reported name).
- Adds ICE’s detailed timeline of his detention: arrested during a targeted enforcement action Friday, reported no medical history, then complained of shortness of breath and chest pain Friday night in an ICE Dallas field office hold room before being transported to Parkland Hospital.
- Provides ICE’s description of his final hours: kept overnight at Parkland, found with a swollen tongue while eating breakfast Saturday, multiple life‑saving efforts attempted, and time of death recorded at 9:10 a.m.
- Clarifies his recent criminal history from ICE’s perspective: SNAP fraud arrest on Sept. 16 and theft arrest on Nov. 1.
- Documents #AfghanEvac’s statement that he came as a refugee after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal, served alongside U.S. special forces, was living in Richardson, Texas, and had a pending asylum case.
- Presents new statistical context on ICE detention: deaths in custody have surged to 14 between Oct. 1 and Jan. 6, compared with 24 for all of the previous fiscal year and 12 in each of the three years before that, and detention capacity has jumped from about 40,000 at the start of Trump’s second term to more than 70,000 with a planned $38.3 billion expansion to 92,600 beds.