Afghan Detainee Dies After Brief ICE Custody

DALLAS, TX – Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, an Afghan national with a documented criminal history, died at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on March 14th, less than 24 hours after being taken into Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody. The circumstances surrounding his death are now under investigation, raising questions about the medical care provided to detainees.

Paktiawal was arrested on March 13th during a targeted ICE enforcement action and immediately placed in immigration proceedings. Records show he entered the United States through Washington Dulles International Airport in Maryland on August 21, 2021, receiving parole that expired August 20, 2025. He hadn’t disclosed any pre-existing medical conditions at the time of his arrest, according to ICE.

The situation rapidly deteriorated late on March 13th when Paktiawal began complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains while in an ICE Dallas Field Office processing hold room. Emergency Medical Services were called, and he was rushed to Parkland Hospital where he received breathing treatments. Doctors recommended observation, but less than 12 hours later, Paktiawal’s condition took a fatal turn. Medical staff noted his tongue had become severely swollen during breakfast on March 14th, initiating a frantic, ultimately unsuccessful, attempt to save his life. He was pronounced dead at 9:10 a.m. Central Daylight Time.

Prior to his brief stint in ICE custody, Paktiawal had accumulated a criminal record. Local authorities arrested him on September 16, 2025, for SNAP fraud, a felony. He was arrested again on November 1, 2025, on a charge of theft. These prior offenses paint a picture of a man already entangled in the U.S. legal system before his death in custody.

ICE claims to have notified Paktiawal’s next of kin and the Consulate of Afghanistan in Toronto, Canada, regarding his death. The agency has also initiated standard internal notifications to the Department of Homeland Security, the DHS Office of Inspector General, and the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility. While ICE touts its commitment to providing “safe, secure, and humane environments” for detainees and comprehensive medical care, this incident will undoubtedly fuel scrutiny of those claims.

This is the latest in a string of detainee deaths within ICE custody, prompting calls for greater transparency and accountability. ICE is obligated to publicly report all in-custody deaths within 90 days, as mandated by the DHS Appropriations Act of 2018, with reports available on ICE.gov. Grimy Times will continue to follow this developing story and investigate the factors contributing to Paktiawal’s death.