Afghan asylum seeker dies in ICE custody, US advocacy group says

The Guardian US News
by Reuters
March 16, 2026
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3 min read

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Afghan asylum seeker who worked with US military died in ICE custody 24 hours after detention.

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Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan asylum seeker who previously worked with the US military in Afghanistan, died in ICE custody on Saturday, less than 24 hours after being detained in Texas. Federal agents arrested Paktyawal outside his Dallas-area apartment on Friday morning while he was taking his children to school, according to AfghanEvac, a military veteran-led advocacy group. Paktyawal had been living with his wife and six children while his asylum case remained pending in the immigration system. The death highlights ongoing concerns about conditions and medical care in ICE detention facilities, particularly for Afghan nationals who assisted US forces during the war. The Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement operations since taking office in January.

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An advocacy group has reported the death and circumstances of the detention.

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