Afghan Asylum Seeker and Former U.S. Military Partner Dies in ICE Custody in Texas

According to reports, an Afghan immigrant who previously worked with the United States Armed Forces in Afghanistan died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas. The individual, identified as Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal, had been living in a suburb of Dallas with his wife and six children while his asylum case in the United States was still pending. Reports indicate that Paktyawal was detained by federal agents outside his apartment on Friday morning while he was taking his children to school. He reportedly died the following day while in ICE custody, less than 24 hours after his detention. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed. AfghanEvac, a veteran-led advocacy organization supporting Afghan allies, confirmed the incident through its president Shawn VanDiver. Sources say further details regarding the circumstances of his death remain unclear, and the case is expected to draw attention from advocacy groups monitoring the treatment of Afghan asylum seekers in the United States.