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WHO:

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41-year-old Afghan man, father of six

Rahmanullah Zazy, leader in the Dallas-area Afghan community

Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac

Naseer Paktyawal, brother of Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal

Lauren Bis, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Rahmanullah Zazy, leader in the Dallas-area Afghan community, stated, “His kids started crying and yelling, you know, screaming,” regarding Paktyawal's arrest.

Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, stated, “Mr. Paktyawal survived our war in Afghanistan and trusted the United States enough to rebuild his life here.”

Rahmanullah Zazy, leader in the Dallas-area Afghan community, stated, “They’re saying they took our community member alive to the detention center, and now we are getting the dead body.”

Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac, said, “We just know he’s dead.”

Naseer Paktiawal, brother of Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, described his brother as a “hero” and stated, “He was here, and he just got killed in less than 24 hours.”

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, 41-year-old Afghan man, father of six

Naseer Paktyawal, brother of Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal

Lauren Bis, spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Shawn VanDiver, president of AfghanEvac

Rahmanullah Zazy, leader in the Dallas-area Afghan community

Mustafaa Carroll, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Texas

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

WHAT:

Paktyawal's death has prompted widespread grief in the Afghan diaspora community in Texas, where over 190,000 Afghans have settled since August 2021.

An advocacy group, AfghanEvac, provided a certificate of service indicating Paktyawal served alongside a special forces group in eastern Afghanistan, along the Pakistan border.

Paktyawal's death is under investigation by ICE, marking the 12th death of a detainee in ICE custody in 2026.

An initial report from the Dallas County Medical Examiner listed no cause or manner of death for Paktyawal.

Paktyawal's family stated he was the primary provider for his family, working at an Afghan halal market in the Dallas area.

More than 100 members of the Afghan community gathered outside the hospital in Dallas, asking to see Paktyawal’s body, which could not be released pending an autopsy.

Mustafaa Carroll, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Texas, stated, “This tragedy comes during the final days of Ramadan, the most sacred time of the month when Muslims reflect on mercy and justice.”

Paktyawal's death is the 12th of a detainee in ICE custody in 2026, as confirmed by multiple sources.

An initial report from the Dallas County Medical Examiner listed no cause or manner of death for Paktyawal.

Paktyawal was taken to Parkland Hospital after complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains during his medical intake exam at a Dallas ICE field office.

On March 14th, 2026, Paktyawal was declared dead at 9:10 a.m. after receiving CPR and other resuscitative efforts from physicians.

Paktyawal's family stated he had no known health conditions and had been seeking asylum since his arrival in the U.S. in August 2021.

Paktyawal's humanitarian parole expired in August 2025, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

Paktyawal was arrested during a “targeted enforcement operation” on March 13th, 2026, while dropping off his children at school at approximately 7:00 a.m.

Paktyawal's brother, Naseer, stated, “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.”

Rahmanullah Zazy, a leader in the Dallas-area Afghan community, stated, “They’re saying they took our community member alive to the detention center, and now we are getting the dead body.”

Paktyawal's family stated he was the primary provider for his family, working at an Afghan halal market in the Dallas area.

More than 100 members of the Afghan community gathered outside the hospital in Dallas, asking to see Paktyawal’s body, which could not be released pending an autopsy.

Paktyawal's death is the 12th of a detainee in ICE custody in 2026.

Paktyawal's family stated he had six children aged 18 months to 15 years old, the youngest of whom is an American citizen.

An advocacy group provided a certificate of service indicating Paktyawal served alongside a special forces group in eastern Afghanistan, along the Pakistan border.

Paktyawal was described by ICE as a “criminal illegal alien from Afghanistan.”

Paktyawal was described as a “criminal illegal alien from Afghanistan” by ICE in their statement.

Paktyawal's death is under investigation by ICE, marking the 12th death of a detainee in ICE custody in 2026.

Paktyawal's family stated he was the primary provider for his family, working at an Afghan halal market in the Dallas area.

An initial report from the Dallas County Medical Examiner listed no cause or manner of death for Paktyawal.

Paktyawal's death is under investigation by ICE.

Paktyawal's family stated he had no known health issues prior to his detention.

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal died on March 14th, 2026, less than a day after being detained by ICE

Paktyawal's death marks the 12th death of a detainee in ICE custody in 2026

Paktyawal was arrested during a “targeted enforcement operation” on March 13th, 2026

Paktyawal was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas after complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains

Paktyawal's condition deteriorated, and he was declared dead at 9:10 a.m. on March 14th, 2026

Paktyawal had a pending immigration case and was paroled into the U.S. under Operation Allies Refuge

ICE stated that Paktyawal had a criminal history, including arrests for SNAP fraud on September 16th, 2025, and theft on November 1st, 2025

WHERE:

Dallas, Texas, specifically near Paktyawal's apartment in Richardson, Texas

Parkland Hospital, Dallas, Texas

WHEN:

Paktyawal was declared dead on March 14th, 2026, shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time.

Paktyawal was detained on March 13th, 2026, at approximately 7:00 a.m. while dropping off his children at school.

Paktyawal was declared dead on March 14th, 2026, shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time.

Paktyawal was detained on March 13th, 2026, at approximately 7:00 a.m. while dropping off his children at school.

Paktyawal was detained on March 13th, 2026

Paktyawal died on March 14th, 2026, shortly after 9 a.m. local time

Paktyawal arrived in the U.S. in August 2021

WHY:

Mustafaa Carroll, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Texas, stated, “Detention does not erase a person's humanity. Every individual in custody must be treated with dignity, safety, and respect.”

Paktyawal's family and advocates are calling for an immediate investigation into his death, stating it is “not normal” for a healthy 41-year-old to die suddenly in custody.

Paktyawal fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover in August 2021, having served alongside U.S. forces since around 2005

His humanitarian parole expired in August 2025

HOW:

Paktyawal was taken to Parkland Hospital after complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains during his medical intake exam at a Dallas ICE field office.

Medical staff attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation after his condition worsened.

Paktyawal was taken into custody by ICE agents who surrounded him while he was with his children, leading to a scene where his children were crying and pleading for help.

Paktyawal was taken to Parkland Hospital after complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains during his medical intake exam at a Dallas ICE field office.

Medical staff attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation after his condition worsened.

Paktyawal was taken to Parkland Hospital after complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains during his medical intake exam at a Dallas ICE field office.

Paktyawal was taken into custody by ICE agents who surrounded him while he was with his children, leading to a scene where his children were crying and pleading for help.

Paktyawal was arrested by ICE agents during a targeted enforcement operation

He was taken to a Dallas ICE field office for processing and later hospitalized after medical complaints

Medical staff attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation after his condition worsened

(UPDATED March 17, 2026 03:45 UTC)

The death of Paktyawal has sparked widespread grief within the Afghan diaspora community in Texas, where over 190,000 Afghans have settled since August 2021. Paktyawal, who served alongside a special forces group in eastern Afghanistan, was taken into custody by ICE agents while with his children and later died at Parkland Hospital after experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains. His death is currently under investigation, marking the twelfth death of a detainee in ICE custody this year, as more than 100 members of the Afghan community gathered outside the hospital demanding to see his body, which is pending an autopsy.

(UPDATED March 17, 2026 01:25 UTC)

In a tragic development, Paktyawal's death marks the twelfth detainee fatality in ICE custody this year, with initial reports from the Dallas County Medical Examiner revealing no cause or manner of death. He was taken to Parkland Hospital after experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains during a medical intake exam at a Dallas ICE field office, but was declared dead on March 14 at 9:10 a.m. following resuscitative efforts, leaving his family and the Afghan community in shock, as they gathered outside the hospital seeking answers and mourning the loss of a primary provider who had been seeking asylum since 2021.

(UPDATED March 16, 2026 23:08 UTC)

On March 14, 2026, Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan man and father of six, was declared dead shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time, marking the twelfth death of a detainee in ICE custody this year. Paktyawal had been detained the previous day while dropping off his children at school, and he was taken to Parkland Hospital after experiencing shortness of breath and chest pains during his medical intake exam. Advocacy groups have highlighted his service alongside a special forces group in Afghanistan, while community leaders are mourning his loss, especially during the final days of Ramadan, a time for reflection on mercy and justice.

(UPDATED March 16, 2026 21:09 UTC)

Paktyawal, described as a “criminal illegal alien from Afghanistan” by ICE, was declared dead on March 14 shortly after 9:00 a.m. local time, marking the 12th death of a detainee in ICE custody this year. His family, who relied on him as the primary provider while he worked at an Afghan halal market in Dallas, expressed their grief, with community leader Rahmanullah Zazy noting that his children were left crying and screaming after the news of his arrest. Mustafaa Carroll, Executive Director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Texas, emphasized that detention should not strip away a person's humanity, insisting that everyone in custody deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.

(UPDATED March 16, 2026 19:20 UTC)

In a tragic turn of events, Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal died shortly after being detained by ICE agents last Monday while dropping off his children at school, leaving his family and community in shock. Rahmanullah Zazy, a leader in the Dallas-area Afghan community, reported that they were informed Paktyawal was taken alive to a detention center, only to receive his dead body soon after, while his brother described him as a “hero.” The Dallas County Medical Examiner has yet to determine the cause of death, and Paktyawal's family is demanding an immediate investigation, emphasizing that it is “not normal” for a healthy 41-year-old to die suddenly in custody.

(UPDATED March 16, 2026 15:17 UTC)

Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan man and father of six, died on March 14, 2026, less than a day after being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a targeted enforcement operation. Paktyawal, who had fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover and had a pending immigration case, was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas after complaining of shortness of breath and chest pains, but he was declared dead shortly after arriving. His death marks the 12th fatality of a detainee in ICE custody this year, with officials noting that he had a criminal history that included arrests for SNAP fraud and theft.