By Marissa Armas, Bo Evans, S.E. Jenkins
Updated March 16, 2026
An Afghan father who family members say served alongside U.S. forces died in federal immigration custody less than 24 hours after his arrest in North Texas.
Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal, 41, was taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on March 13 near his home in Richardson, Texas, as he dropped his children off at school, his brother Naseer Paktiawal said. “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 said. Less than a day later, he received a call that his brother had died.
Family members say Paktiawal was legally in the United States after evacuating Afghanistan in 2021 following years of service with U.S. forces. Naseer said Mohammad Nazeer had worked with the U.S. government as a member of Afghan special forces and had served alongside U.S. troops for more than a decade. “He was a hero to his family, to his people, and to his country,” Naseer said.
ICE said Paktiawal was paroled into the U.S. in 2021 under Operation Allies Refuge but provided no record of military service. The agency said his parole expired on Aug. 20, 2025, and that he had a criminal history, including a SNAP fraud charge filed Sept. 16, 2025, for $200 or more and a theft arrest on Nov. 1, 2025. ICE said neither case had been adjudicated before his death. CBS News Texas has not independently confirmed the criminal-history information provided by ICE.
According to ICE, Paktiawal reported no prior medical history when he was taken into custody. Late on March 13, while in a Dallas Field Office processing hold room, he complained of shortness of breath and chest pains; Emergency Medical Services were called and he was transported to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. ICE said he received a breathing treatment and the ER doctor recommended observation.
On the morning of March 14, while eating breakfast in the hospital, medical staff noted his tongue had become swollen. ICE said he was given an epinephrine drip and later went into cardiopulmonary distress. After multiple lifesaving attempts, he was declared dead at 9:10 a.m. ICE said the death is under investigation.
Family members and community leaders have demanded a transparent inquiry. “All I want,” Naseer said, “I want justice for my brother. I don’t need anything else from this government.” Mustafaa Carroll, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – Texas, noted the death occurred during the final days of Ramadan and called for a full, transparent investigation, saying detention does not erase a person’s humanity.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Deputy Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis issued a statement saying that no one in ICE custody is denied access to proper medical care and highlighted the agency’s routine provision of medical, dental and mental health services, including 24-hour emergency care.
A community fundraising campaign has been launched to help cover funeral costs and support Paktiawal’s family as they seek answers.