An Afghan man who reportedly served alongside U.S. forces for more than a decade died at a Dallas hospital less than 24 hours after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested him in front of his children.
Mohammed Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, a husband and father of six, was detained around 7 a.m. on Friday while dropping his kids off at school near his home in Richardson. His brother, Naseer Paktiawal, described the scene.
“He was arrested in front of these kids while taking them to school at 7 in the morning. Some people surrounded him, put him in the car, and drove him away while they were screaming, asking for help,” Naseer Paktiawal said, CBS News Texas reported.
Less than 24 hours later, the family received word that Mohammed Nazeer Paktiawal had died at Parkland Hospital.
The family says he arrived in the U.S. legally in 2021 after evacuating under the Biden administration’s Operation Allies Refuge and had a pending immigration case. ICE said he was paroled into the country but provided no record of military service, and his parole expired on August 20, 2025. The agency cited prior arrests for SNAP fraud and theft, though The Dallas Express has not independently confirmed convictions.
Naseer Paktiawal called his brother “a hero to his family, to his people, and to his country.”
ICE confirmed Mohammed Nazeer Paktiawal was arrested on March 13 and held for one day. He reported no prior medical history at the time of his arrest. Late Friday, he complained of shortness of breath and chest pains at the ICE Dallas Field Office and was taken to Parkland Hospital, where an ER doctor recommended observation.
Early Saturday, while he was eating breakfast, medical staff noted that his tongue had become swollen. He received an epinephrine drip. Later that day, staff began cardiopulmonary resuscitation. After multiple lifesaving efforts, he was declared dead at 9:10 a.m.
ICE said the death is under investigation.
“All I want,” said Naseer Paktiawal, “I want justice for my brother. I don’t need anything else from this government.”
Mustafaa Carroll, DFW executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Texas, called the timing especially painful.
“This tragedy comes during the final days of Ramadan, the most sacred time of the month when Muslims reflect on mercy and justice,” Carroll said. “Detention does not erase a person’s humanity. Every individual in custody must be treated with dignity, safety, and respect. We call on authorities to ensure a full and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Paktiawal’s detention and death.”
Department of Homeland Security Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis defended agency practices.
“No one in ICE custody is denied access to proper medical care,” Bis said. “It is a longstanding practice to provide comprehensive medical care from the moment an alien enters ICE custody. This includes medical, dental, and mental health services as available, and access to medical appointments and 24-hour emergency care. This is the best healthcare that many aliens have received in their entire lives.”
