Afghan asylum seeker dies after less than 24 hours in ICE custody
By Jennifer Jett
Published on March 16, 2026.
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, a 41-year-old Afghan immigrant who worked with the US military in Afghanistan, died less than 24 hours after being detained in Texas by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The father-of-six had applied for U.S. asylum and had worked at an Afghan halal market in the Dallas area. He was taken into custody by ICE a day after his arrest outside his apartment complex. The death is under investigation. ICE described him as a "criminal illegal alien" and stated that he had not reported any prior medical history. He is at least the 12th person this year to die in ICE custody under President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.
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